Cultural Dimensions of African Immigrant Housing in Toronto: A Qualitative Insight

Joseph Mensah and Christopher J. Williams

Housing Studies, 2014, vol. 29, issue 3, 438-455

Abstract: This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of Ghanaians and Somalis in Toronto, highlighting the multifaceted interplays between their cultures, housing problems, and coping strategies. We found that, unlike the situation in their homelands where many were involved in communal living out of desire, in Toronto many are driven to live communally for reasons of cost. Also, some respondents have to either improvise, or totally forgo, various culinary practices because of the ways homes are designed in Toronto. Perhaps, no other cultural attribute was found to be more consequential in the housing decisions of our respondents than their religion; not only did it influence their choice of neighborhood and whether or not their internal living arrangements were gendered, but it also had some bearing on the acquisition of interest-laden loans for housing among many Somalis.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2014.848266

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