Interaction Practices of Residents of Dilapidated Houses in the Circumstances of Housing Deprivation

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of communities of residents of dilapidated houses who do not have access to many modern housing benefits, and the practices of their interaction. The presence of the dilapidated status of the house is associated with the problem of housing inequality, since it has a significant impact on the quality of life, which allows us to consider this phenomenon within the framework of the concept of housing deprivation, covering both problems of living and social and psychological consequences for individuals.

The methods of collecting information included mapping, content analysis of media publications, observation of areas of dilapidated houses, including photography, and interviews with residents. As a result, the dilapidated housing situation in Novosibirsk was described: maps were created to reflect the scale of the dilapidated housing situation and its differentiation by city districts and years of construction of dilapidated houses, the topicality of the problems of dilapidated houses by the frequency of mentions in the media. The main groups of actors interacting on the problems of dilapidated houses were identified: residents of dilapidated houses, businesses and government, the public (media and city residents). The problems of living in dilapidated houses in the context of housing deprivation are systematized as follows: issues related to the physical condition of the house, resettlement and social problems. Groups of practices of interaction of residents of dilapidated houses are described (practices of landscaping and practices of joint work). It is concluded that these practices often perform a compensatory function in relation to the situation of housing deprivation, are a “response” to it and are aimed mainly at leveling its negative consequences.