Search Results (533)

Jordan’s aging population faces a critical challenge: a strong cultural preference for aging at home, rooted in Islamic ethics of familial care (birr al-wālidayn), conflicts with housing stock that is largely unsafe and inaccessible. This first national mixed-methods study examines the intersection of home modifications, socio-economic barriers, and cultural constraints to aging in place. Data from 587 surveys and 35 interviews across seven governorates were analyzed using chi-square tests, linear regression, and thematic coding. Results indicate that while physical modifications significantly improve accessibility to key spaces like kitchens and reception areas (majlis) (χ² = 341.86, p < 0.001), their adoption is severely limited. Socio-economic barriers are paramount, with 34% of households unable to afford the median modification cost of over $1500. Cultural resistance is equally critical; 22% of widows avoid modifications like grab bars to prevent the ‘medicalization’ of their home, prioritizing aesthetic and symbolic integrity over safety. The study reveals a significant gendered decision-making dynamic, with men controlling 72% of structural modifications (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). We conclude that effective policy must integrate universal design with Islamic care ethics. We propose three actionable recommendations: (1) mandating universal design in building codes (aligned with SDG 11), (2) establishing means-tested subsidy programs (aligned with SDG 10), and (3) launching public awareness campaigns co-led by faith leaders to reframe modifications as preserving dignity (karama) (aligned with SDG 3). This approach provides a model for other rapidly aging Middle Eastern societies facing similar cultural-infrastructural tensions. Full article

Advancing urban scholarship and addressing pressing challenges such as gentrification, housing affordability, and urban sprawl require robust predictive models. In urban sciences, the performance of these models depends heavily on hyperparameter tuning, yet systematic evaluations of tuning approaches remain limited. This study compares two traditional hyperparameter tuning methods, Random Search and Grid Search, with Optuna, a more recent and advanced optimization framework, using housing transaction data as an illustrative case. Our findings show that Optuna substantially outperforms the other methods, running 6.77 to 108.92 times faster while consistently achieving lower error values across multiple evaluation metrics. By demonstrating both efficiency and accuracy gains, this research underscores the potential of advanced tuning strategies to accelerate urban analytics and provide more reliable evidence for policy-making. Full article

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) have emerged as alternative housing models mainly taken up by civil society organizations aiming to de-commodify land and ensure long-term affordable housing, while fostering participatory democratic governance and (re)claiming the right to homeownership. Drawing on empirical evidence from the CLT in Leuven (Belgium) and research conducted between November 2022 and February 2025, this study examines state-led CLTs and their potential in providing affordable housing and democratizing housing systems. The leading role of local authorities serves as a catalyst facilitating access to land and resources while setting up democratic and collaborative governance processes towards the creation of housing commons. However, their involvement introduces market mechanisms that undermine long-term affordability. This research mobilizes the literature on commons and commoning, housing affordability debates and governance theories to explore the paradox of state-led CLTs: Can they democratize housing governance, or does state involvement inevitably reinforce the market mechanisms they seek to counteract? The paper argues that states can initiate commons without fully co-opting them, provided governance is polycentric and reflexive. The contribution of state-led housing commons lies not in radical rupture but in incremental decommodification and emergent commoning, showing how commons can evolve within capitalist states. Full article

Context: It has been claimed that recently, in England, the places with the greatest amount of housing built were the places that least needed them. This is an accusation that has echoes in a number of countries around the globe. The lack of construction leads to greater unaffordability and a lower level of economic activity than could have been achieved if labour, particularly those with high human capital, was not so constrained as to where they could afford to live. The recent National Planning Policy Framework for England imposes mandatory targets on housing planning authorities. As such, the following question is raised: will the targets result in additional residential homes being located in places of greater need than the prevailing pattern? Research Questions: The paper sets out to consider the spatial mismatch between housing additions and national benefit in terms of unaffordability and productivity. Specifically, do the concentrations of high and/or low rates of the prevailing rates of additional dwellings and the target rates of adding dwellings correspond with the clusters of high and/or low unaffordability and productivity? A further question considered is: does the spatial distribution of additional dwellings match the clusters of population growth? Method: The values of the variables are transformed at the first stage into Anselin’s LISA categories. LISA maps can reveal unusually high spatial concentrations of values, or clusters. The second stage entails comparing sets of the transformed data for agreement of the classifications. An agreement coefficient is provided by Fleiss’s kappa. Data: The data used is of additional dwellings, the total number of dwellings, population estimates, gross value added per hour worked (productivity data), and house price–earnings ratios. The period of study covers the eight years prior to 2020 and the two years after, omitting 2020 itself due to the unusual impact on economic activity. All the data is at local authority district level. Findings: The hot and cold spots of additional dwellings do not correspond those of house price–earnings ratios or productivity. However, population growth hot spots show moderate agreement with those of where additional dwellings are concentrated. This is in line with findings from elsewhere, suggesting that population follows housing supply. Concentrations of districts with relatively high targets per unit of existing stocks are found correspond (agree strongly) with clusters of house price–earnings ratios. Links between productivity and housing are much weaker. Conclusions: The strong link between targets and affordability suggests that if the targets are met, the claim that the places that build the most housing are the places that least need them can be challenged. That said, house-price–earnings ratios present a view of unaffordability that will favour greater building in the countryside rather than cities outside of London, which runs against concentrating new housing in urban areas consistent with fostering clusters/agglomerations implicit in the new modern industrial strategy. Full article

Cities play a vital role in creating wealth and ensuring the well-being of all their inhabitants. However, major international efforts aimed at fostering fairer, healthier, and a more sustainable world have been compromised by the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this research is to determine key priorities for addressing the pandemic’s impact in both the present and in a future urban context. Therefore, this study applies the Delphi method to a panel of 24 experts in order to identify the most and least important targets from Sustainable Development Goal 11 for post-COVID-19 sustainable urban planning in Cuenca, Ecuador. Out of the twelve targets, only five were prioritized, including “Target 11.1 Affordable housing”, Target 11.3 Sustainable Urbanization”, “Target 11.9 Implement policies for inclusion and property rights”, and “Target 6.3 Improve water quality”. These findings can serve as a foundation for future public policies and strategies for sustainable urban planning of the city. Full article

Microscopy is a fundamental tool in biological research. However, conventional microscopes require manual operation and depend on user and equipment availability, limiting their suitability for continuous observation. Moreover, their size and complexity make them impractical for in situ experimentation. In this work, we present a novel, compact, affordable, and portable microscope that enables continuous in situ monitoring by being placed directly on biological samples. This chip-sized lensless holographic microscope (CLHM) is specifically designed to overcome the limitations of traditional microscopy. The device consists solely of an ultra-compact, state-of-the-art micro-LED display and a CMOS sensor, all enclosed within a 3D-printed housing. This unique light source enables a size that is markedly smaller than any comparable technology, allowing a resolution of 2.19 μm within a 7 mm distance between the light source and the camera. This paper demonstrates the CLHM’s versatility by monitoring in vitro models and performing whole-organism morphological analyses of small specimens. These experiments underscore its potential as an on-platform sensing device for continuous, in situ biological monitoring across diverse models. Full article

Sustainable housing is increasingly recognized as a crucial social determinant of health, intersecting environmental sustainability with affordability, safety, and inclusivity to shape population health and equity. This paper reviews the existing literature and presents that integrating sustainable housing into public health frameworks can mitigate health risks, reduce inequities, and promote resilient urban futures. This review paper reframes sustainable housing through a holistic lens, emphasizing its potential to improve health through inclusive design, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and affordability. Theoretically grounded in the Social Determinants of Health framework, Ecological Systems Theory, Environmental Health Theory, and Life Course Perspective, sustainable housing is shown to influence health outcomes across multiple levels and life stages. Empirical studies further validate these connections, demonstrating improved physical and mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations, when sustainable housing features are implemented. While these benefits span multiple health domains, persistent implementation challenges related to equity, financing, and policy coherence can limit their reach. Equity-centered approaches and cross-sector collaboration are essential to ensure the health benefits of sustainable housing are distributed fairly. Climate-resilient design strategies further underscore the role of housing in protecting communities against growing environmental threats. Furthermore, research priorities are required to strengthen the evidence base, including studies utilizing longitudinal study designs and participatory approaches. The findings of this review call for policy innovations that embed sustainable housing within broader public health and urban development agendas. Full article

Obesity has emerged as one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century, with its prevalence increasing at an alarming rate globally. While individual factors such as diet and physical inactivity are well-known contributors, the built environment, particularly housing, plays a critical yet understudied role in shaping obesity-related behaviors. This study examines the multilayered relationship between housing and obesity, focusing on built and neighborhood environment, affordability, and the social environment. Poor housing quality, such as overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, can potentially lead to chronic stress and sedentary behaviors, while housing design influences physical activity through characteristics such as design features and outdoor spaces. Housing location affects access to amenities such as parks and healthy food options, with disparities in access contributing to obesity in low-income areas. Similarly, neighborhood walkability, influenced by infrastructure and land use, encourages active transportation and recreation. Housing affordability also impacts dietary choices and access to recreational facilities, particularly for low-income families. Moreover, the social environment within housing communities can foster or hinder healthy behaviors through social networks and community engagement. This study emphasizes the need for health-conscious urban planning and policies that address these housing-related factors to combat obesity and promote healthier lifestyles. By integrating these Obesity–Housing Nexus, policymakers can create environments that support physical activity, healthy eating, as well as overall health and well-being. Full article

Whether on greenfield or brownfield sites, new buildings need land. The locations of additional dwellings in England, whether provided through a standard planning process or a light-touch approach, have recently been criticised for not impacting affordability and for being in the wrong places. More sustainable means of raising the stock of abodes in England, including repurposing dilapidated or underused property, land, or infrastructure; reducing the demolition rate; and reducing the time an existing dwelling is left idle, do not consume additional land for building. Although the National Planning Policy Framework for additional dwellings places a duty on each district planning authority to find more land for housing, alternatives to new builds are included in the count. This paper examines the spatial concentrations of the components that can add to the habitable stock of real estate. It examines their take-up over recent years. This is important for land-use planning and the preservation of green spaces in the face of increasing housing pressures. Using a simple, innovative approach to assessing collocation, the paper considers whether there are similarities in spatial concentrations. The approach is used to infer whether builders converting existing property add units in areas where new builds are in more modest supply. Although alternative means of adding to the housing stock may be more sustainable, and more likely to be found in areas of greater need, the numbers are too low to be anything other than a supplement to new builds. Full article

The United States of America could build 20,000 bases for the Statue of Liberty every year using its construction and demolition waste, and 456 bases using waste glass from jars and bottles. However, some sectors of the population still face a shortage of affordable housing. The challenges of disposing of such large amounts of waste and solving the housing shortage could be addressed together if these materials, considered part of a closed-loop system, were integrated into new building blocks. This research studies compressed earth blocks that incorporate soils and gravels excavated in situ, river sand, crushed concrete from demolition waste, and recycled glass sand. To stabilize the blocks, cement is used at 5, 10, and 15% (by weight). The properties studied include the following: density, apparent porosity, initial water absorption, simple compression, modulus of elasticity, and thermal conductivity. Optical image analysis proved to be a tool for predicting the values of these properties as the stabilizer changed. To assist in decision making regarding the best overall performance of the total 12 mix designs, a ranking system is proposed. The best blocks, which incorporate the otherwise waste materials, exhibited simple compression values up to 7.3 MPa, initial water absorption of 8 g/(cm² × min^0.5) and thermal conductivity of 0.684 W/m·K. Full article

Many countries worldwide are facing a housing crisis, marked by a shortage of affordable housing. To respond to this growing crisis, prefabricated residential construction is gaining popularity due to cost savings in mass production, faster construction times, improved quality control, and sustainability considerations. This study provides a critical review of the available literature within the prefabricated and modular residential construction industry to assess its present status and to identify opportunities and challenges. The literature was categorized into the subfields of architecture, sustainability, structural, energy, environment, factory build, installation, policy, possibilities and challenges, and case studies. A detailed summary is provided for each subfield. This study aims to provide insights into the prefabricated and modular residential construction industry to fill the knowledge gap, discover possibilities, and address any challenges to create a clear pathway for implementation. Full article

Widespread job losses and economic disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant housing payment insecurity, disproportionately affecting various demographic groups and regions across the United States (US). While previous studies have explored the pandemic’s impact on housing insecurity, they all focused on specific periods, populations or areas. No study has yet provided a comprehensive analysis of inequality in housing insecurity throughout the pandemic, particularly in terms of spatial disparities. Our study addresses this gap by analyzing individual-level and aggregated data from the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) (N = 2,062,005). The findings reveal heightened vulnerability among individuals aged 40–54, those with lower education and income, Black and Hispanic/Latino populations, women, households with children, individuals who experienced job loss, the divorced, and larger households. Renters experienced greater housing insecurity than homeowners. A hotspot analysis identified the southeastern US as a region of acute housing insecurity, revealing that insecurity cannot be solely measured by affordability. The regression results show that poverty is the main reason for differences in housing insecurity across places, and rent burden is also important. The geographically weighted regression (GWR) model shows stronger coefficients in southern states, highlighting that poverty and rent burden are particularly influential factors in these areas. This study shows the multifaceted nature of housing insecurity, calling for targeted group or location policy interventions. Full article

This study examines the impact of personal remittances on housing prices in European Union (EU) countries, while also accounting for a broader set of macroeconomic, demographic, and structural variables. Using annual data for 27 EU countries from 2007 to 2022, we employ a comprehensive panel econometric approach, including cross-sectional dependence tests, second-generation unit root tests, pooled mean group–autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) estimation, and panel causality tests, to capture both short- and long-term dynamics. Our findings confirm that remittances significantly and positively influence long-term housing price levels, underscoring their relevance as a demand-side driver. Other key variables such as net migration, GDP, travel credit to GDP, economic freedom, and real effective exchange rates also contribute to housing price movements, while supply-side indicators, including production in construction and building permits, exert moderating effects. Moreover, real interest rates are shown to have a significant long-term negative effect on property prices. The analysis reveals key causal links from remittances, FDI, and net migration to housing prices, highlighting their structural and predictive roles. Bidirectional causality between economic freedom, housing output, and prices indicates reinforcing feedback effects. These findings position remittances as both a development tool and a key indicator of real estate dynamics. The study highlights complex interactions between international financial flows, demographic pressures, and domestic economic conditions and the need for policymakers to consider remittances and migrant investments in real estate strategies. These findings offer important implications for policymakers seeking to balance housing affordability, investment, and economic resilience in the EU context and key insights into the complexity of economic factors and real estate prices. Importantly, the analysis identifies several causal relationships, notably from remittances, FDI, and net migration toward housing prices, underscoring their predictive and structural importance. Bidirectional causality between economic freedom and house prices, as well as between housing output and pricing, reflects feedback mechanisms that further reinforce market dynamics. These results position remittances not only as a developmental instrument but also as a key signal for real estate market performance in recipient economies. Full article

Research on commuting patterns has mainly focused on urban and metropolitan areas, and such studies are not typically applied to rural and small-town regions, where workers often face longer commutes due to limited job opportunities and inadequate public transportation. By using the Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) data, this research fills that gap by analyzing commuting behavior by ethnic group and industry in south-central Minnesota, which is a predominantly rural area of 13 counties in the United States. The results show that both white and minority groups in District 7 experienced an increase in excess commuting from 2006 to 2016, with the minority group in Nobles County showing a significantly higher rise. Analysis by industry reveals that excess commuting in the leisure and hospitality sector (including arts, entertainment, and food services) in Nobles County increased five-fold during this time, indicating a severe spatial mismatch between jobs and affordable housing. In contrast, manufacturing experienced a decline of 50%, possibly indicating better commuting efficiency or a loss of manufacturing jobs. These findings can help city and transportation planners conduct an in-depth analysis of rural-to-urban commuting patterns and develop potential solutions to improve rural transportation infrastructure and accessibility, such as promoting telecommuting and hybrid work options, expanding shuttle routes, and adding more on-demand transit services in rural areas. Full article

To solve the present housing crisis, the Support for Access to Housing Program, in the context of PRR, mainly focuses on social housing to be built or on housing of social interest to be regenerated. To approach this problem, a research question was raised: “What is the significance of the existing cooperative housing in solving the current housing crisis?” To analyze this issue, a multiple case study was adopted, comparing a collective dwelling of cooperative promotion at controlled costs in Caselas (1980s–1990s) with Expo Urbe (2000–2007) in Parque das Nações, a symbol of the new sustainable cooperative housing, which targets a population with a higher standard of living and thus is excluded from the PRR plan. These cases revealed the discrepancy created by the Cooperative Code of 1998 and its consequences for the urban regeneration of this heritage. They show that Caselas, built in a residential urban neighborhood, is strongly attached to a community, provides good social inclusion for vulnerable groups at more affordable prices, and it is eligible for urban regeneration and reuse (for renting or buying). However, the reuse of Caselcoop’s edifices cannot compromise their cultural and residential values or threaten the individual integrity. Full article