Community Social Cohesion During a Large Public Housing and Neighborhood Redevelopment: A Mixed Methods Study

Judith L. Perrigo (), Anna Ginther, Haniya S. Syeda, Victoria Shier and Ashlesha Datar
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Judith L. Perrigo: Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare Department, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Anna Ginther: Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare Department, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Haniya S. Syeda: Luskin School of Public Affairs Social Welfare Department, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Victoria Shier: Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Ashlesha Datar: Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

Societies, 2025, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Public housing redevelopments can disrupt community members’ sense of belonging and attachment to their neighborhood, in large part due to resident displacement and gentrification. Recent public housing redevelopment efforts seek to mitigate these adverse changes, but evidence of their association with community social cohesion is limited. The current mixed methods study examines community social cohesion from different perspectives during a large public housing and neighborhood redevelopment in Southern California. Semi-structured qualitative interviews ( n = 21) were conducted with various community stakeholders to explore their perceptions of social cohesion within the context of public housing and neighborhood redevelopment. Additionally, the Social Cohesion scale was used to evaluate residents’ ( n = 647) sense of neighborhood social cohesion. Stakeholders raised concerns about how redevelopment could disrupt the social fabric of their communities and underscored the importance of deliberate efforts to promote integration between existing and incoming residents. The significance of creating physical spaces, protecting landmarks, and facilitating social interaction to cultivate a sense of belonging was also emphasized. Residents of the public housing redevelopment reported significantly higher levels of social cohesion when compared to residents from two neighboring public housing complexes that are not undergoing redevelopment. Implications for public housing redevelopment strategies, community integration efforts, and future research are discussed.

Keywords: social cohesion; public housing redevelopment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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