Empowering the Unprivileged : The Case of Self-renovation in Disadvantaged Areas

• In the 90’s; several European governments promoted the involvement of inhabitants as an important condition of success in urban regeneration projects. The dialogue with inhabitants was supposed to strengthen a collective movement in the neighbourhoods; to restore social and territorial cohesion and create a local identity among the residents of disadvantaged areas. However; a number of issues can be raised regarding this policy: the commitment of the inhabitants in the decision-making process is difficult to ascertain; especially throughout the whole duration of the project; and in relation to the management of the different stages of the project; it is not always easy to achieve consensus; etc. In particular; it is hard for the project managers to involve the most unprivileged groups; notably people suffering from a combination of social; legal and financial problems. The stake here is not simply their participation in a project; but more specifically their “empowerment”. In this framework; the methods of the French non-profit organization Les Compagnons Bâtisseurs are instructive. They provide micro solutions to people living in poor housing conditions through the conception and the implementation of a self-renovation process. The organization proposes technical and financial support so that the most disadvantaged groups can renovate their flats. However; the goal is not only to ameliorate the material living conditions; through the organization of workshops in the neighbourhood; the participation of the inhabitants in the renovation work; the coordination between the team of Compagnons Bâtisseurs and social workers; the social inclusion of the most unprivileged groups can be promoted.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Empowerment

Self renovation in housing

unprivileged social groups

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)