Local identity in the context of housing deprivation (the case of emergency houses in Novosibirsk's akademgorodok)

This article examines the local identity of residents of emergency homes living in conditions defined as housing deprivation. The authors argue that a person’s long-term residence in a place may constitute one of the factors determining a local identity based on a connection with the place in which one lives and the feelings that one feels about it. If housing is recognized as emergency, signs of housing deprivation cause residents to be dissatisfied with their place of residence. In some cases, the particular conditions of the place of residence can reduce this dissatisfaction. Such conditions include the prestige of the area of residence of the person living in an emergency house, as well as good neighborly relations between the residents of the emergency house. To test these hypotheses, a sociological survey was conducted in emergency houses in Novosibirsk’s Akademgorodok. The housing conditions of the respondents were found to be generally consistent with housing deprivation. It is also shown that the content of the interviewees’ attitudes towards their place of residence corresponds to the traits of local identity. It is concluded that the local identity of respondents is complemented by cultural identity and community identity.