Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

The concept of social capital has been embedded ubiquitously into the strategies and goals of community-based development programs for families living in low-income neighborhoods. However, scholars continue to debate social capital's empirical support. One reason for debate is a lack of specificity when conceptualizing social capital. Second, and related, neighborhood contextual indicators are often bundled into the measurement of social capital making it impossible to tease out the difference between the resource of social capital and the contextual resources of the neighborhood.

The present study defines neighborhood bonding social capital as trust and cohesion in neighbors. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this study tests the relationship between neighborhood bonding social capital, median neighborhood income, and mean neighborhood tenure with homeownership. Testing the relationship between these variables will allow us to see if the resource embedded in bonding social capital has an effect above and beyond the effect of neighborhood income and tenure.

Methods

Individual level data for this study are from the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections survey. The survey was administered in 2003 to a stratified random sample of approximately 800 residents living in low-income neighborhoods in ten U.S. cities. The Making Connections survey examines neighborhood relationships, income and assets, neighborhood services, and more. Neighborhood level data are from the 2000 U.S. census. Census block groups represent neighborhoods with each Making Connections' survey respondent being matched to their appropriate block group. A total of 5,578 respondents from 410 neighborhoods are included in the analysis. Analysis is performed using Hierarchical linear model with intercepts as outcomes.

Results

Descriptive results show that 36% of respondents are homeowners. An individual's neighborhood bonding social capital is measured as social cohesion and trust on a five point Likert scale (1=low to 5=high). Individual's mean neighborhood bonding social capital score is 3.44 (SD=.80). The mean for neighborhood's median income is $25,240 (SD=$9,690) and the mean for neighborhood's median years in the neighborhood is 7.20 (SD=5.85).

Findings from hierarchical linear modeling reveal a significant relationship (p<.05) for a respondent's neighborhood bonding social capital, median neighborhood income, and median neighborhood tenure on homeownership. For a unit change on a respondent's neighborhood bonding social capital score, they are 35% more likely to own their home. For every additional ten thousand dollar increase in median neighborhood income a respondent is 24% more likely to own their home and for each additional mean year of neighborhood tenure they are 10% more likely to be homeowners. Neighborhood accounts for 21% of the variation in homeownership

Implications for practice

Findings suggest that an individual's neighborhood bonding social capital is associated with homeownership above and beyond the association with neighborhood income and neighborhood tenure. This study demonstrates that an individual's neighborhood bonding social capital is important for homeownership, and distinct from other neighborhood resources. As research continues to reveal relationships between specific measures of social capital and indicators of economic success practitioners will be armed with additional tools to effect positive change for families living in low-income neighborhoods.