Social integration in social housing projects. An analysis in the Gran Concepción, Chile

Abstract

Starting from the discussion between residential segregation and social integration, this article analyzes the evaluation of various aspects of the residential habitat of two social housing projects executed by the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism in Gran Concepción, Chile. The projects sought to solve the housing problems of 4,140 families who resided in irregular settlements through two opposing strategies: In one case via settlement in central areas of the city and in another via eradication to the urban periphery. The data collects the evaluation of the beneficiary families through a quantitative study that considered a survey design with a total sample of 1,130 families. The results indicate that, regardless of the operating strategy of housing projects, families evaluate the home positively and the neighborhood negatively. In particular, a perception of social heterogeneity is observed that differs from the objective conditions, a negative evaluation of the neighbors and the social relations in the intra-neighborhood space, reflecting a clear tendency of distinction and differentiation. The results of the study open new questions in the discussion about social integration in social housing complexes.