Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
Highlights
The rapid growth of the urban population in recent decades has intensified the housing crisis, making it a critical concern for urban societies.
The Mehr Housing Plan was introduced as a supportive social policy aimed at providing affordable housing for low-income households and stabilizing housing prices.
Despite improving physical access to housing, the plan has resulted in residential complexes that are physically homogeneous but culturally diverse and socially fragile.
Neglecting the issue of social instability in these communities may transform Golman into a modern ghetto, perpetuating cycles of poverty and marginalization.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In the past few decades, the rapid urbanization of Iranian cities has escalated the demand for housing, transforming housing shortages into a fundamental challenge for urban governance. In response, a variety of housing policies have been implemented, such as urban regeneration, land provision, rental schemes, social housing, and more recently, the Mehr Housing Plan. This plan emerged as a flagship social policy initiative aiming to deliver low-cost housing to underserved urban populations while curbing speculative price increases.
Despite achieving quantitative progress in homeownership among low-income groups, the qualitative implications of the Mehr Housing Plan remain understudied, particularly in relation to social sustainability. In this context, the new city of Golman near Urmia has witnessed the rapid expansion of Mehr housing complexes, often lacking adequate consideration for social cohesion, infrastructure, and long-term community stability. This study aims to qualitatively examine the social sustainability of Mehr housing in Golman using an ethnographic approach grounded in residents' lived experiences.
Theoretical Framework
Traditionally, housing was viewed narrowly as a physical shelter meeting basic physiological needs such as rest, protection, and food preparation (Pourmohammadi, 2014). However, contemporary interpretations expand this view, emphasizing housing as a comprehensive residential environment encompassing employment opportunities, educational facilities, health services, recreational spaces, and cultural integration (Mokhbar, 2013). In this broader context, housing becomes a multidimensional phenomenon essential to quality of life and social well-being.
In the 21st century, the discourse surrounding housing and urban development has evolved to include social sustainability as a core dimension. This concept—despite its conceptual ambiguity and lack of universally accepted definitions (Colantonio, 2009; Marta & Giulia, 2020)—has become a focal point in assessing the viability and inclusiveness of urban housing policies. Notably, prior studies on Mehr housing have predominantly emphasized physical and economic parameters, often neglecting the sociocultural and psychological dimensions of housing stability.
This research does not aim to test a specific theory of social sustainability; rather, it seeks to fill a critical gap in the literature by examining how social sustainability is constructed and perceived by residents of Mehr housing through a qualitative, interpretative lens.
Methodology
The study employed a qualitative ethnographic methodology to explore the social dynamics within Mehr housing complexes in Golman. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and field observations. A purposive sample of 22 participants—including residents and community managers—was selected based on theoretical saturation. The collected data were analyzed thematically, integrating both the emic (insider) perspectives of participants and the etic (outsider) analytical viewpoint of the researcher.
Results and Discussion
Findings reveal pervasive social instability within Golman's Mehr housing. Key indicators include weak neighborhood identity, low levels of social capital, concentrated poverty, perceived social exclusion, cultural heterogeneity, spatial segregation, and dissatisfaction with the quality of life—despite nominal homeownership. Residents frequently cited issues such as delayed project delivery, contractor dishonesty, poor construction quality, lack of community cohesion, and insufficient experience with apartment living—particularly among migrant populations from rural areas.
Furthermore, cultural disparities among residents have inhibited the development of a shared social fabric, undermining trust, cooperation, and a sense of place belonging. These findings suggest that the current trajectory of Golman's development risks transforming it into a zone of "modern marginalization"—a ghetto-like environment masked by formal homeownership but riddled with socio-spatial inequalities.
Conclusion
From a sociological standpoint, the Mehr housing complexes in Golman are significantly distant from meeting the essential criteria of socially sustainable communities. These include equitable access to services and employment, safety, local participation, social cohesion, and a stable sense of community. Instead, residents experience social disorganization, cultural fragmentation, and a profound sense of exclusion and dissatisfaction.
Without proactive interventions to address these socio-cultural deficits—such as community engagement programs, mixed-income housing models, and infrastructural improvements—Golman is likely to devolve into a modern manifestation of poverty ghettos. Conversely, even modest improvements in quality of life without addressing structural inequalities may merely result in superficial inclusion, masking deeper patterns of marginalization.
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