News

Defining housing inequality- a state-of-the-art literature review reveals a multifaceted concept.

24/01/2025

Topics:

Energy poverty

Project:

The HouseInc project takes a deep dive into the topic of housing inequality. The research, co-authored by IEECP’s Marco Peretto, provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts of housing inequality and explores the definitions existing in the current literature.

Housing inequality is a critical issue with far-reaching implications for social justice, economic stability, and public health. Adequate housing is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of individual well-being and community development. Disparities in housing quality, affordability, and accessibility exacerbate broader social inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. Housing conditions significantly impact physical and mental health outcomes, educational attainment, and economic opportunities. Understanding the multifaceted dimensions of housing inequality is essential for developing effective policies and interventions to promote equitable access to housing and foster inclusive societies. 

Researchers took a mixed-method literature review approach:

– Beginning with a systematic quantitative review of 13,190 articles, mapped into 40 clusters.
– Then a qualitative review focused on approximately 180 papers selected from these clusters, supplemented by 43 landmark articles recommended by experts.

The approach cast a wide net across different streams of literature to ensure a comprehensive exploration of housing inequality research and related scholarship from various disciplinary perspectives, to identify key concepts, and to potentially inform and develop them further.

The report identifies various at-risk communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, gender and sexual minorities, individuals with migration histories, and those with low socioeconomic status. These groups face disproportionate impacts from gentrification, mobility challenges, and housing affordability crises.

From the literature, the report defines ten overarching concepts: 

  • Discrimination-based Injustice: segregation and health impacts intersecting with race, gender, and class.
  • Gentrification: spatial and social/cultural impacts, including displacement and socioeconomic divides. 
  • Green Urban Regeneration: the “green space paradox” and its role in socio-spatial segregation. 
  • Social and spatial residential mobility: particularly within social housing and racial segregation dynamics.
  • Natural Hazards: how disasters exacerbate housing inequalities, with vulnerable households suffering disproportionately. 
  • Health Outcomes: Links housing inequalities with physical and mental health, highlighting the role of neighbourhood environments.
  • Quality of Life: investigates inequalities in well-being, housing satisfaction, and security.
  • Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: examines how land and property rights impact housing access and affordability. 
  • Financialization of Housing: discusses housing as a financial asset, exacerbating affordability challenges and wealth inequality.
  • Energy Poverty: highlights inadequate access to energy for basic needs, particularly affecting low-income households. 

The report concludes that housing inequality serves as a conceptual umbrella term rather than providing a clear, distinct definition, reflecting its multifaceted nature. This ambiguity presents an opportunity to better address the diverse manifestations of housing inequalities.

Read the report in full here 

For a visual summary of the research, discover our research posters.


HouseInc will take a systemic view and assess interlinkages of housing inequalities – emphasising energy and mobility poverty, digital dimensions, employment opportunities, family and socio-demographic conditions, energy efficiency, and health – at a micro-, meso- and macro-level. 

Newsletter

A newsletter sharing topic-divided news and events, in your mailbox monthly
Subscribe

Follow us on Social Media