Renew Detroit: Essential Home Repairs & Housing Stability

Emma Bassett

Pronouns: she/her

Research Mentor(s): Darlene Caro
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Renew Detroit – Special Housing Programs, City of Detroit / NonUM
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 5 (2:40pm – 3:30pm)
Authors: Emma Bassett, Darlene Caro

Abstract

The key issue is collecting data from residents around their perceived housing stability and housing quality before and after a major home repair of a roof replacement. This data helps inform the proposed project outcomes that by targeting essential home repairs for residents who may not be able to secure the repairs on their own, we are not only increasing the neighborhood revitalization efforts, but that it also increases the likelihood of residents staying in their home, continuing to perform routine maintenance, and keeping the opportunity of having the asset available to pass down increasing intergenerational wealth. Survey responses were gathered on a scale from 1-5. While the results of comparing the before and after responses are not complete yet, there seems to be a general increase of confidence in the homeowners in both housing stability and quality. A qualitative section on the before and after surveys allowed residents to write free text responses. Not everyone chose to use this method, but the responses of those who did were recorded and a word to summarize each response was derived as well. Survey responses are still being collected as home construction is completed. A word cloud was created to demonstrate the overall gist of the initial survey words. The bigger a word appears, the more times it was used in a qualitative response. Overwhelmingly, the most prevalent word was “thankful,” followed by “needed,” “good,” and “great.” This positive feedback trend demonstrates the importance of roof replacements to homeowners. From the data we have collected so far, it is evident that providing a major home repair can increase the likelihood a resident will stay in their home and feel comfortable in their surroundings which ultimately increases neighborhood stability.

Community Engaged