Stockholm city mission’s pilot project to build socially sustainable housing : A study from a social and economic sustainability perspective

Abstract: The purpose of this case study is to describe and analyze the City Mission's project to construct and manage socially sustainable housing in Farsta Strand. This is done by analyzing the project and its intended model from a social and economic sustainability perspective. The methods used to collect data in this qualitative study include a compilation of literature review, document analysis, and interview study. The study subject in Farsta Strand was investigated in a case study where project developers from the Stockholm City Mission and two researchers were interviewed to gain an understanding of the project's purpose, design, context, and background. In addition to the two selected sustainability dimensions, social and economic sustainability, the theoretical background of the study is based on a developed theoretical framework. This framework consists of analysis questions partly based on previous research reports related to the project's previous design. The formulated analysis questions were based on the revised project model and were then included in the interview guide for the interview with representatives from the Stockholm City Mission. The obtained answers served as the starting point for the analysis and discussion from a social and economic perspective. Even though the study subject has not been constructed and the model has not been previously tested, the study addresses its purpose of creating long-term housing solutions of good quality for households that face challenges in accessing the regular housing market. Furthermore, the study results suggest that the project can potentially achieve its purpose based on the two sustainability dimensions. From a social sustainability perspective, the project can create conditions for households to improve their living situation over time by offering a collective housing solution that includes, among other things, first-hand contracts with adjusted rents. Simultaneously, the study demonstrates from an economic sustainability perspective that the project can offer long-term conditions for property owners to adopt the model, which is a prerequisite for the purpose of the model to be achieved.