Building neighbourhoods : a study of newly-built transitional housing in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study is about the social dimensions of transitional housing projects in Hong Kong. Transitional housing should not only be a physical shelter, but also provide an environment to enhance the social relationships of the residents and the formation of a neighbourhood. The study examines the sense of neighbourhood of residents of two current large-scale and newly-built transitional housing, namely United Court and Pok Oi Kong Ha Wai Village. It focuses on the sense of neighbourhood of the residents and how the operators' efforts of these two transitional housing in designing and managing public spaces and organizing events for their residents affect their social interaction and sense of neighbourhood. This qualitative research conducted face-to-face interviews with twenty residents from two newly-built transitional housing and interviews with five professionals in social work, urban planning and housing management sectors. Analysis of the responses showed that the residents generally have a relatively high relational dimension of sense of neighbourhood after living in transitional housing, while showing less attachment to the neighbourhood on attitudinal dimension. The findings revealed that the residents are satisfied with the public spaces in transitional housing, and the efforts of operators in organizing events did enhance the social interaction and sense of neighbourhood to their residents. At the same time, the similar backgrounds of the residents and the use of smart technologies also contribute to the sense of neighbourhood of the residents. Using the experience from transitional housing projects, the research also provides policy recommendations for the coming light public housing and other public housing projects in Hong Kong. It recommends that the government put more effort into public spaces and organizing events for future public housing to foster social interactions in neighbourhoods and build a sense of neighbourhood for residents.