Social sustainability in housing as an entry point to achieving quality of urban life in Egypt

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of social sustainability in housing and its impact on the quality of urban life in Egypt, highlighting a critical gap in the literature regarding implementation challenges and community-driven solutions in emerging economies. The aim is to explore how social sustainability—measured through specific strategies, resident engagement, and policy interventions—can enhance urban quality of life, providing actionable insights for policymakers and industry professionals. This research is categorized as a descriptive-analytical study and employs a mixed-methods approach. It combines quantitative data from structured questionnaires administered to 257 employees in Egypt’s real estate development industry with qualitative thematic analysis. Data analysis utilizes analytical tools from the SPSS program, employing various statistical measures, including means, frequencies, standard deviations, and percentages. Additionally, a one-way ANOVA test was conducted to assess the significance of differences in averages based on demographic variables. The findings indicate that while current strategies and policies demonstrate some effectiveness, there is considerable room for improvement in areas such as public transportation and employment opportunities. The study identifies significant challenges to implementing strategies that promote social sustainability, including limited government support, lack of awareness and education, and prevailing cultural and social norms. However, community participation can play a crucial role in enhancing social sustainability by providing feedback to policymakers and planners, identifying community needs and priorities, building social cohesion and engagement, and bringing diverse perspectives to the housing development process. The theoretical implications of this study contribute to the development of a theoretical framework for measuring social sustainability through specific strategies and resident engagement. It also clarifies the challenges that impede the implementation of these strategies. The study emphasizes the significance of community participation in planning, as it enhances interaction between residents and policymakers, effectively addressing community needs. Additionally, it offers practical recommendations for decision-makers to strengthen social sustainability. Finally, the findings open new avenues for research on housing topics, enriching the overall understanding of social sustainability and contributing to the relevant literature.

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