Capturing environmental affordances: Low‐income families identify positive characteristics of a hotel housing solution |
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Authors: | Terri Lewinson |
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Affiliation: | School of Social Work, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3995, Atlanta, GA 30302‐3995, USA |
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Abstract: | This qualitative study describes the positive characteristics of an extended‐stay hotel as identified by low‐income families that resided there. Interviews were conducted with ten hotel residents using a semi‐structured interview guide and participant photographs to elicit a deeper understanding of experiencing home at a hotel. Framed in the theoretical perspective of environmental affordances, findings suggest that despite discomforts of the hotel environment, residents were still able to enjoy family independence, social engagement, a sense of safety and connection to a community context. The findings of this study may help practitioners gain a balanced perspective of non‐ideal housing conditions for planning interventions. Even in these conditions, positive characteristics can be identified to reinforce family functioning and well‐being. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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Keywords: | affordances environment home low‐income hotel resident |
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