Social housing as a space for community empowerment:

an approach to two social neighborhoods in the North of Portugal

Abstract

Community intervention is a fundamental pillar of the social integration of vulnerable populations, enabling capacity-building and empowerment by providing tools to promote an improved quality of life. In this regard, the literature highlights that the highest levels of social integration are observed among individuals who participate in neighbourhood dynamics. The article presented, using a mixed-methods approach, analyses data from 90 questionnaire surveys and eight interviews with both participants and non-participants in socio-occupational activities in social housing neighbourhoods in Guimarães and Fafe. These data allow for an understanding of residents’ perceptions regarding socio-occupational intervention, the influence of the neighbourhood space, and social interactions in contributing to the success of such interventions. The objectives of this article are: to understand and assess residents’ perceptions of the neighbourhood space, including its social and cultural identity; to explore the influence of the integration process and the level of participation in neighbourhood dynamics; and to identify the advantages, impact, benefits, and barriers of a socio-occupational community intervention in fostering the social cohesion of the neighbourhood itself. The aim is to gain insights and contribute to the improvement of socio-occupational community intervention. Practicing community participation activities and creating meaningful relationships with neighbors are effective strategies to combat isolation, while strategic partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector provide the necessary resources (51.2% of participants in socio-occupational activities report that the knowledge acquired in the context of the activities is important for their daily lives and for their training).