After the 2008 Global Financial Crash, Ireland’s neoliberal housing policy turned again to housing financialisation as focus lay upon the attraction of corporate investors in order to revive the housing market. The result was a swift return to housing price rises but this came with ever growing homelessness and housing precarity as REITs and other corporate investors' influence on the housing market grew. Affordability has become a common framing as one of the key issues which Ireland’s housing system is currently facing, by the state and researchers alike. However, much of this research frames housing issues and policies as being objectively defined. Social constructionism holds that housing issues and policy are heavily subjective, where material conditions are subjectively negotiated among competing narratives steeped in ideology and vested interests in an attempt to create a dominant narrative. This research, building upon a social constructionism approach, has analysed the negotiated process within the affordability discourse of Ireland. The key findings are that the state’s affordability narrative remains heavily linked to a commodified, private sector led housing provision which holds to its traditional liberal welfare regime. This narrative is reflected in the private sector’s narrative, which frames the state as a facilitator of the efficient private sector, which within a housing system free of state barriers, can create affordability. However, as more and more face into greater housing precarity as unaffordability grows, a counter narrative framing state built public housing, supported by the non-profit sector as key to reducing the reliance on a greedy private sector and in so doing, achieving affordability. As this movement grows, spearheaded by the increasing threat of Sinn Féin to parliamentary power and the growth of the trade union led Raise the Roof campaign movement, this counter narrative has grown in power. Although limited, there has been a shift in the state’s narrative which reflects that of the counter narrative where the state frames the need for a greater direct state role in affordable housing provision and state intervention as a control mechanism on the negative effects of the profit motive of the private sector. Although this can not be said to be a shift in welfare regime, it highlights the negotiated process of narratives within affordability discourse.

台北市房價明顯高於其他地區，也使得民眾的購屋負擔相對沉重。其中房貸金額屬未來現金流出部分，是否有足夠能力償還貸款將直接影響生活品質。本研究旨在了解總體經濟因素對台北地區家戶房貸負擔能力的影響，並進一步探討家戶房貸負擔能力在面對相同因素下，是否會因所得的差異而有不同影響。 本研究採用Gan and Hill (2009) 提出的負擔風險法 (affordability at risk) 為基礎，藉由應還本付息金額與可負擔還本付息金額等資料計算出家戶單位房貸負擔風險。樣本期間為2009年至2014年，並將台北市全體家戶依所得區分為五等分位，再進一步比較各項經濟變數在不同年度及不同所得下與家戶房貸負擔風險之關係。 經實證結果得到以下四點結論： (1) 台北市整體家戶房貸負擔風險在樣本期間主要受「房價指數」、「經濟成長率」、「貸款利率」與「建物面積」影響。 (2) 當家戶單位所得越高，其房貸負擔越不容易受經濟變數影響。 (3) 銀行核貸條件顯著影響所得較低者之房貸負擔。 (4) 第三所得分位之房貸負擔風險相對其他分位數高。本研究亦提出以下三點建議： (1) 縮短不動產交易實價查詢資料更新時間，使實價登錄價格得以更即時反應。 (2) 續辦理政策性優惠房貸，依區域房價差異彈性調整申貸額度，(3) 針對確實換屋者有條件調整其適用利率，調整購屋補貼息。以期改善未來購屋者之房貸負擔，緩解台北市家戶房貸壓力。 / Housing price in Taiwan has risen for the past decade; Taipei City even reached historical high record in 2014. The burden of the mortgage, which is part of future cash out, becomes more stressful under such circumstance. For household units, the solvency of mortgage could directly impact their quality of life. This study would like to use macroeconomic factors to measure the impact of household mortgage affordability in Taipei metropolitan. This study would observe the relationship between income and household mortgage affordability under the same macroeconomic factors. This study uses affordability at risk published by Gan and Hill (2009), calculating household mortgage affordable risk by actual mortgage amount and affordable mortgage amount. Given different income segmentation, this study would discuss the relationship between household mortgage affordable risk and macroeconomic factors under study period. The empirical results show that "housing price", "economic growth rate", " interest rate" and "building area" have significant effects on household's mortgage affordable risk. The conditions of mortgage affect the mortgage affordable risk of lower income group more than upper income group. The more income the household have, the less significant variables they are affected. Furthermore, the third-income household takes the highest risk of mortgage affordability while the government developed policies in order to curb the housing price.

Household food security status in rural areas is a significant issue facing caregivers as positive health outcomes depend on appropriate access to healthy foods necessary to lead an active life. Access and affordability of healthy foods are two mediating factors of household food security that may be improved to ultimately increase rates of food security and overall health status among rural, low income populations. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors of access and affordability of nutritionally adequate food sources in one rural community in relation to food security status through the perspective of its caregivers. In general, populations suffering from low rates of food security report lower access to healthy foods and the inability to afford healthy foods. The study utilized a primarily qualitative approach; however, thirty-one participants were initially categorized by levels of food security by the US Household Food Security Survey Core Module as a quantitative measure. Twelve participants who were classified as food insecure and were caregivers to children under the age of 18 responded to an in-depth interview focusing on the factors of access and affordability. Twenty-six (84%) of the thirty-one food pantry clients who completed the initial survey were classified as food insecure. Open-ended interviews of participant perceptions of access and affordability to health foods in relation to food security revealed several major themes titled transportation and physical ability challenges, key issues in store choice, cost barriers in food shopping, strategies to maximize food dollars, and factors involved in food choice. The results of this study, while they must be interpreted with caution, suggested there were multiple systems interacting that mediated the problem of food insecurity in this rural area through the perception of low income caregivers. The data can be used to improve health promotion programs and inform public health policies that can have a positive impact on overall health in rural areas.

Housing Situation of Young People in the Czech Republic Abstract The thesis contributes to a discussion of a social stratification and inequalities in society. The aim of the work is to review a housing situation of Czech households, with the emphasis on the age of the head of household, from several complementary perspectives. Housing conditions of young households are described by the concept of the financial and physical affordability of housing on the basis of objective data about their income situation and the cost and quality of housing. Therefore, we can identify households that have limited access to adequate housing e.g. because of their social background or current social position in the society. The paper also examines the subjective opinions of respondents on the quality and the financial burden of housing. To achieve these objectives, data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) of the Czech Statistical Office are analyzed for the years 2005-2011. The analysis also contains the regional perspective, which is used to compare the housing affordability for households living in the different areas of the Czech Republic. Also for this reason results of the thesis could be useful as a basis for housing policy makers. Keywords: young households, housing affordability, housing...

Thesis (M. Tech. (Food and Beverage management, Dept. of Hospitality, Tourism and Project Management) -- Vaal University of Technology / Background: About 66 percent of South Africans are urbanised. The majority of this population is forced by circumstances to live in informal settlements. Despite the income challenges faced, the market expenditure by these low-income consumers amounts to R129 billion per year. A lack of information exists regarding food product attributes that guide purchasing choice for maize meal. Objective of the study: To identify and describe the food product attributes experienced as most important during purchasing of maize meal by low-income consumers in informal settlements in the Johannesburg-Vaal region. Methods: Phase 1 comprised a quantitative survey in three informal! and one formal settlement (n=502), testing the level of importance perceived for 14 food product attributes. In Phase 2, focus group discussions were conducted to describe and compare the understanding of the food product attributes between groups and with literature. Results: Phase 1 defines income level as the boundary within which low-income consumers perceived the importance of food product attributes. Satiety value and the affordability of food products override sensory attributes as the main decision choice, as usually applicable to higher income groups. Nutrient content was ranked least important. These findings can probably be allocated to the need of low-income consumers to satisfy priorities for survival (satiety value). Phase 2 reported no distinctive differences in the meaning of terms between groups. However, a difference exists in the depth of meaning. The majority of descriptive elements indicated a link to economic attributes. Strong cross-links between attributes were revealed through the findings. No major differences were found in the understanding of food product attributes between the respondents' groups and with existing literature. Two concept elements, the versatility of product use as linked to taste and the ability of sensory qualities to report quality of maize meal as linked to product safety, were revealed by the current study. Key words: Food product attributes, low-income households, staple food, maize meal, informal settlement, purchase choice.

Student Number : 0001367T - MA dissertation - School of Architecture and Planning - Faculty of Humanities / This is an exploratory study which seeks to look at barriers to land accessibility for the construction of low-income or affordable housing on former mining lands between Soweto and Johannesburg CBD. Based on the findings, there are various barriers which inhibit and threaten the construction of houses on former mining lands. These barriers, exposed by the findings of this report are radon, mine dust - both of which pose a serious health risk to residents if exposed to it for a long period of time - high prices of land, inadequate funding for housing subsidies and the National Nuclear Regulator’s too strict and uncompromising stance on housing construction on contaminated lands. The conclusion drawn by this report is that the government, owners of former mining land and the National Nuclear Regulator need to co-operate and work together towards finding a common ground in order to enhance the possibility of a total removal of these barriers, so that the previously marginalized citizens can afford to own houses closer to the Central Business District of Johannesburg.

It is claimed that low-income people in Dhaka city do not have the financial ability to enjoy adecent housing environment. There is a clear lack of knowledge on how low-income people,drawing upon both their available income together and support from formal financial institutions,would be able to afford housing. It is commonly considered a fact that their access to formalfinancial means is largely hindered by their poor financial status, along with the absence of anyform of land tenure security. The case of this study demonstrates, on the contrary, the adequatefinancial ability of the urban poor when it comes to meeting rent and payments for other necessaryservices. This study therefore primarily responds to the critical issue of whether the government isunaware of informal housing practices, or is simply ignorant of low-income housing provision.In this study, perspectives on change are analyzed in order to comprehend the obstacles andchallenges embedded within the housing organizations of Dhaka city. Within the local governanceparadigm, the concepts of deliberative dialogue and partnership are explored with the aim toreveal both the resources rooted in ‘informal’ low-income housing practices, and the resources atstake for the ‘formal’ housing gatekeepers. Different land tenure security options are explored inorder to understand their compatibility with the informal nature of low-income housing. Thetheory of social business is critically reviewed, and used to examine whether low-incomeaffordable housing could be seen as a product resulting from partnerships between vested actors,for whom the low-income community could be considered to be both a beneficiary and a partner.This study suggests that outside the boundary of ‘formal’ housing, there is an unexplored andfunctional ‘informal’ housing market where de facto owners purchase ‘business tenure security’from the slum lords, while de facto tenants buy ‘house rental tenure security’ in exchange forregular rental payments. Within this informality, an innovative financial organization (the JhilparCooperative) has emerged as a creative platform for business investment. This study reveals thatJhilpar’s inhabitants pay more than 30 percent of their monthly income for housing. As anabsolute value, this is more than what is being paid by middle-class – and even many high-income– people. The slum inhabitants also pay more for a limited supply of basic services, such aselectricity.This study concludes that the formal housing gatekeepers lack a complete knowledge of‘informality’ – a notion reflected in, for example, the actual financial ability of the urban poor; thestrength and potentials of systematic community-based cooperative business; and housing relocationdecisions (employment-housing nexus). This fundamental lack of knowledge precludesthe housing gatekeepers from taking the right decisions to achieve affordable low-incomehousing. These deficiencies have led to low-income housing projects that have barely benefitedthe urban poor, benefiting other income groups instead. Low-income housing projects utilizingland title provision, sites and services schemes, and relocation to other places (amongst otherstrategies) disregard the nature, strength, and potentials of housing ‘informality’ in the slums inthe most pronounced manner. This identified knowledge gap also rules out private and publichousing gatekeepers employing their resources as enablers or providers. To improve this impassewith regard to affordable low-income housing, this study advocates a ‘social business model forlow-income housing’ as the most effective option for the Jhilpar community, wherebypartnerships would be built on an ‘investment’ mindset, through a shift away from conventional‘give away’ practices. / QC 20120221

This dissertation considers some challenges to delivering effective and equitable health care to disadvantaged children and families in the United States. Chapter one examines whether expanded access to health insurance following the enactment of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1997 reduced the prevalence of economic hardships (food insecurity, problems affording housing) and postponed medical care. In difference-in-differences analysis, I find that relative to a comparison group of families that missed the eligibility cutoffs, families that gained eligibility under CHIP did not experience changes in food or housing problems, but were significantly less likely to postpone medical care. These findings suggest that while public insurance for families with children likely improves access to care, it does not significantly reduce other forms of hardship. Chapter two provides an ethical argument for subsidizing health insurance for low income families – a central component of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA). I argue subsidies are a vehicle for promoting equality of opportunity: specifically, subsidies ensure access to specific “basic opportunities” (such as the ability to attend college) when out-of-pocket spending on insurance would have otherwise crowded out those opportunities. Subsidies thus make a modest, but important, contribution to mitigating the negative effect of health spending on social mobility and financial security, even if they fall short of comprehensive income protection. I raise and respond to some potential concerns about inequities created by this system, and conclude with implications for evaluating the subsidies under the ACA. Chapter three investigates whether diffusion of long-acting stimulants, a medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narrowed racial/ethnic disparities among diagnosed children in the Florida Medicaid program. In longitudinal analysis, we found that minorities were substantially less likely than whites to use medications overall, but minority medication users were equally likely to switch to long-acting medications after market introduction. The increase in prescribed days was comparable for white and black medication users, but lower for Hispanics. Geography and provider setting helped explain overall medication utilization disparities, but adherence disparities were not explained by any of the covariates. We recommend targeting interventions to increase medication adherence to high-volume, minorityserving providers.

By understanding current approaches and methods of product development (PD) combined with knowledge of the needs and know-how of customers in the least developed countries (LDCs) associated risks and excessive costs can be avoided. The main purpose of this thesis is to highlight the important need of developing products and services for the LDCs and to look at current practices for PD and to distill these into one method for developing products pertinent to LDC needs and markets. Conversely, the second purpose for this thesis is to examine possible LDC based development tools that can be applicable when designing for the more established markets. There are also crucial social, cultural, economic and political reasons for addressing LDC related issues. The goal is to show companies of all sizes that it can be profitable to expand to new markets in the LDCs and also that the steps used there can help generate new revenue when implemented in their current markets, as well as to provide them a model for it. This thesis includes and clearly demonstrates the importance of development involvement on the local level and the benefit of using complementors. The thesis data and conclusions are based on literature studies and an extended stay in the Dominican Republic. It is here observed that by getting closer to the end customer, a company will get an increased understanding and knowledge that provides an advantage over the competition. And for companies to succeed in the LDCs, the three most significant things to consider are: 1) to find the specific needs of the customer, 2) design for affordability, and 3) to source and manufacture locally. It will be seen that the benefits to such an approach extend outward in essentially all directions.

This professional report explores the unique health needs of homeless individuals, how homeless individuals access medical and mental health services, and the impact that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have on medical services for homeless individuals. Homeless individuals are more likely to experience physical and mental health problems and earlier mortality rates than the general population. Common access points for homeless medical services include clinics, such as Community Health Centers, and emergency care centers, such as hospital emergency rooms. Homeless individuals often face barriers of access to medical services, including competing priorities to sustain life, strained relationships with medical providers, and an inability to pay for high health care costs. Through the expansion of Medicaid and the Community Health Center network, the ACA has the potential to increase access to medical services for homeless individuals. This report concludes by offering recommendations to ensure that homeless individuals benefit from health care reform through the ACA. / text