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Applying for social housing in Australia - The centrality of cultural, social and emotional capital

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 08:15 authored by Morris, A, Clarke, A, Catherine RobinsonCatherine Robinson, Idle, J, Parsell, C
Social housing scarcity has underpinned the development of detailed social housing application processes across Australia. Applications require the strongest possible evidence of disadvantage and need, conceptualized in this paper as the required demonstration of “inverse distinction”. Drawing on 47 in-depth interviews in three Australian states with people who have expert knowledge of the application process, we argue that the onerous requirements of the application means that if an applicant does not have a skilled supporter or advocate, they are less likely to achieve an optimal result. Drawing on Bourdieu’s framework and the concept of emotional capital, we demonstrate that being prioritized invariably involves an applicant sub-contracting cultural and social capital to an advocate. Further, the latter needs to have the requisite emotional capital. This article shines new light on the practical and emotional workload of social housing applications for both housing professionals and those in need of housing assistance.

History

Publication title

Housing, Theory and Society

Volume

40

Pagination

42-59

ISSN

1403-6096

Department/School

Graduate Research

Publisher

Taylor & Francis Scandinavia

Place of publication

Sweden

Rights statement

© 2022 IBF, The Institute for Housing and Urban Research

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Homelessness and housing services

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