Identifying effective factors on the satisfaction of low-income housing residents (Case study: Fooladshahr Mehr Housing)

Extended Abstract

Introduction: Housing satisfaction is a key issue in social sustainability, yet there is no consensus on its ‎determinants. This becomes a multidimensional challenge in the housing of low-income urban groups who face ‎economic constraints and a multitude of social problems. This study examines the factors impacting residential ‎satisfaction among low-income populations, ‎focusing on the Mehr Housing Project in Fooladshahr, Isfahan, ‎Iran—a governmental effort aiming to alleviate ‎housing affordability issues. Despite its scale and ambition, ‎the Mehr Housing initiative has been widely ‎criticised for emphasising rapid quantitative construction over ‎qualitative aspects of living conditions, ‎resulting in pervasive dissatisfaction among its inhabitants. ‎

Method: This study employed a qualitative research methodology, drawing on semi‑structured interviews with ‎twelve residents of the Isar and Farhang neighbourhoods. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret the ‎interview data.‎

Results & Discussion: The analysis identified five overarching themes that collectively undermine residential ‎satisfaction. The coding framework comprised 44 codes organised into 14 subcategories: public spaces and ‎services, accessibility, dimensions and area, visual beauty, quality and durability of construction, facilities and ‎equipment, environmental health, noise and visual pollution, participation, management and supervision, ‎security and privacy, housing costs, and residents’ income.‎

Functionally, residents report limited access to essential services—including markets, healthcare, and ‎education—forcing frequent, time‑consuming travel that compounds daily burdens. Weak public transport ‎coverage and infrequent services further constrain mobility. A scarcity of recreational and community spaces ‎curtails opportunities for social interaction and well‑being, with disproportionate impacts on women, children, ‎and other vulnerable groups. Physically, cramped unit layouts and undersized rooms reduce usability and ‎comfort, while substandard materials and workmanship lead to recurrent maintenance needs and concerns ‎about structural safety. Deficiencies in basic infrastructure—particularly intermittent water supply and ‎unreliable sewage systems—erode trust in the housing environment and heighten residents’ sense of insecurity. ‎These shortcomings also impose ongoing financial and time costs on households. Environmentally, pervasive ‎noise, a shortage of green space, and inadequate air and water quality degrade everyday living conditions. ‎Insufficient waste collection and sanitation practices aggravate health concerns and reinforce perceptions of ‎municipal neglect. Together, these factors contribute to a persistent environmental stress load that residents ‎struggle to mitigate. Socially, inadequate street and common‑area lighting and a limited security presence ‎foster a sense of vulnerability. Privacy is routinely compromised by overcrowding and poor building ‎performance, which amplifies both visual and acoustic intrusions. Residents’ exclusion from planning and ‎management decisions deepens feelings of powerlessness and social fragmentation, weakening collective ‎efficacy. Economically, households face high and volatile rents that are often increased without transparent ‎oversight, alongside widespread unemployment and unstable income sources. These pressures force difficult ‎trade‑offs between basic necessities, maintenance, and housing quality, threatening residential stability. The ‎cumulative effect is financial strain that magnifies dissatisfaction and limits pathways to improvement.‎

Taken together, these functional, physical, environmental, social, and economic deficits interact in mutually ‎reinforcing ways, generating a cycle of constraints that depresses residential satisfaction and diminishes ‎quality of life. ‎

Conclusion: This research underscores the multidimensional nature ‎of residential dissatisfaction in low-‎income housing projects. The findings challenge policymakers to shift ‎from a purely quantitative paradigm to ‎a holistic approach that balances affordability with dignity, safety, and ‎community cohesion. By adopting the ‎proposed strategies, future initiatives like the Mehr Housing Project can ‎transform from mere shelters into ‎thriving neighbourhoods, setting a precedent for equitable urban development ‎in Iran and beyond. Future ‎research should extend similar qualitative studies to diverse geographical and socio-economic ‎contexts to identify broader patterns and develop context-specific models for improving low-income ‎housing quality.‎