By: Lauren F. Carlson, ‘12 and Prof. Kathy Kremer, Ph.D.
Published on
As a result of the downturn in our economy and the mortgage crisis in the U.S., many
people have lost their homes. Here in Grand Rapids, the situation is the same, particularly
in low income and working class neighborhoods. Aquinas sociology students and Associate Professor of Sociology Kathy Kremer partnered with the Creston
Neighborhood Association to learn more about the neighborhood, whose historical identity
was based on home ownership, and has recently experienced both foreclosure and an
increase in renting households. Utilizing this data, Deborah Eid, executive director
of the Creston Neighborhood Association and adjunct instructor of Spanish at AQ, developed
a program that responds to these changes.
In April 2010, student researchers began collecting data in the Creston Neighborhood. The first phase of the student and faculty research has been completed, analyzed, and the article, “Homeowners, Renters, and Neighbors: Perceptions of Identity in a Changing Neighborhood” was recently published in the Michigan Sociological Review. Among the initial findings were:
• 12 percent of the residences were vacant at the time of data collection (more than one in ten homes was empty). This is consistent with statistics that suggest nearly 900 homes, or one out of 10 homes, have been foreclosed in the Creston Neighborhood.
• Only 32 percent of renters expressed interest in becoming a home owner in the area. Of these, most cited a financial reason for not currently being a home owner. This finding counters popular belief that homeownership should be a goal for all households.
• While 17 percent of the residents had contacted the neighborhood association regarding a vacant or boarded up house that they were concerned about, only one was a renter. Overall, homeowners demonstrated a greater connection to the neighborhood association.
This information, while informative, led to additional analysis in order to clarify the specific issues of residents in the neighborhood. As Kremer looked more closely at the data, she discovered:
• 44 percent of the Creston residents indicated rental housing or renting households are their greatest neighborhood concern.
• Among only the home owners, 62 percent noted this was their greatest concern.
• Survey responses given by homeowners often connected rental units or renters themselves with other community concerns, such as crime or drugs.
This data reflects the primary concerns of home owning residents of the Creston neighborhood, and their fear that this changing identity will lead to lower property values, drugs, and crime. Renters have also expressed concerns with renting households, but related to repairs needed and inattentive landlords. Interestingly, no home owners identified foreclosure or the mortgage crisis as their greatest neighborhood concern, although the increase in renting households is related to foreclosed homes becoming rental properties.
This partnership between the Creston Neighborhood Association and the Aquinas Sociology Department will enable the organization to more effectively respond to the needs of the neighborhood residents, including the needs of renting households and the relationships between home owners and renters.
In April 2010, student researchers began collecting data in the Creston Neighborhood. The first phase of the student and faculty research has been completed, analyzed, and the article, “Homeowners, Renters, and Neighbors: Perceptions of Identity in a Changing Neighborhood” was recently published in the Michigan Sociological Review. Among the initial findings were:
• 12 percent of the residences were vacant at the time of data collection (more than one in ten homes was empty). This is consistent with statistics that suggest nearly 900 homes, or one out of 10 homes, have been foreclosed in the Creston Neighborhood.
• Only 32 percent of renters expressed interest in becoming a home owner in the area. Of these, most cited a financial reason for not currently being a home owner. This finding counters popular belief that homeownership should be a goal for all households.
• While 17 percent of the residents had contacted the neighborhood association regarding a vacant or boarded up house that they were concerned about, only one was a renter. Overall, homeowners demonstrated a greater connection to the neighborhood association.
This information, while informative, led to additional analysis in order to clarify the specific issues of residents in the neighborhood. As Kremer looked more closely at the data, she discovered:
• 44 percent of the Creston residents indicated rental housing or renting households are their greatest neighborhood concern.
• Among only the home owners, 62 percent noted this was their greatest concern.
• Survey responses given by homeowners often connected rental units or renters themselves with other community concerns, such as crime or drugs.
This data reflects the primary concerns of home owning residents of the Creston neighborhood, and their fear that this changing identity will lead to lower property values, drugs, and crime. Renters have also expressed concerns with renting households, but related to repairs needed and inattentive landlords. Interestingly, no home owners identified foreclosure or the mortgage crisis as their greatest neighborhood concern, although the increase in renting households is related to foreclosed homes becoming rental properties.
This partnership between the Creston Neighborhood Association and the Aquinas Sociology Department will enable the organization to more effectively respond to the needs of the neighborhood residents, including the needs of renting households and the relationships between home owners and renters.