Draining or gaining? The social networks of public housing movers in Boston

Draining or gaining? The social networks of public housing movers in Boston

Curley, A.M.

OTB Research Institute

2009-08-30

The social networks of low-income residents have been simultaneously described as supportive, strained, localized, and limited in providing access to necessary resources and information. Using a longitudinal qualitative approach, this study investigated the social networks of low-income women in one US high-poverty public housing project. Existing sociological frameworks for studying networks did not fully capture the women’s social ties, particularly their “draining” ties. As the women were relocated as part of a mixed-income housing initiative targeting their neighborhood, a changing flow of resources and stress passed through social ties. A change in neighborhood prompted changes in low-income people’s social networks far different than expected. Findings also raise questions about the importance of weak or bridging ties in linking low-income women with mobility opportunities.

concentrated poverty
draining
housing mobility
leverage
relocation
social networks
support

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9179d4d9-71da-4cd6-8145-185469e0109d

https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407509106716

SAGE Publications

0265-4075

Journal of social and personal relationships, 26 (2-3)

Institutional Repository

journal article

(c) 2009 Curley, A.M.; SAGE Publications