Don't Believe the Hype: “This Community Has Been like a Big Family”

Purpose: It is indeed a Grand Challenge ‘to ensure all youth get a healthy start.’ This depends on many variables, not the least of which is neighborhood factors.  Research has shown that neighborhoods that include public housing have long been associated with numerous negative stereotypes, which can influence young adult residents’ feelings about themselves, their families, their safety and their community. The purpose of this study was to talk directly to residents of public housing, in an effort to build understanding of their perspectives on their communities, and how their communities have influenced their lives.

Method: Participants were young adults ages 18 to 30 (N=55) who were recruited using area sampling from randomly selected apartment units in three housing developments in the Northeast (64% female, mean age=24, 98% youth of color). Face-to-face interviews were conducted examining two research questions: 1) How do young adults perceive aspects of their community and how do those aspects influence their lives, and 2) What services and activities are participants involved with in the community? An example of a specific item (and probes) was, “How has living in this community influenced your life? (positively, negatively, can you give me an example?).” Two coders applied grounded theory coding techniques, including constant comparison within and between interviews to analyze the transcripts (Glaser, 1965). Debriefing meetings were used throughout the process.

Results: Data emerged regarding five overarching themes: 1) community members, 2) physical environment; 3) resilience; 4) safety; and, 5) community resources. With regard to community members, participants reported a range of perceptions, for example “disrespectful people,” “people are nice,” and “diversity of people.” Many participants used the in-vivo code “Everybody knows everybody.” However, there was variation in the valence of this perspective. For example, one participant stated, “Everybody knows everybody and it’ll kill you if you let people know you.” Yet, other participants talked about this aspect of the community as positive, “like a family.” Regarding the physical environment most participants reported negative perceptions, such as the presence of rats, garbage, and loitering, while a few discussed appreciating access to recreational activities. In the categories pertaining to resiliency, safety, and community resources, there was noticeable variability between respondent perceptions, for example, “Sometimes I feel like living here gives you no chance in life” versus “It made me want to be better.” Common services participants reported using were settlement houses, employment programs, and after-school programs.

Implications: It is clear from these data, that there are strengths in low-resourced communities that can be built upon, and that resident perspectives differ from the typical stereotyped comments that are often promulgated regarding neighborhoods that include public housing. Hearing directly from participants on how they perceive their neighborhood and its effect on their lives can inform how policy makers strategize to create change. For example, it may be fruitful to explore the powerful, and commonly reported, idea that living in the community made participants want to be better. Data also support the promise for services set in settlement houses.