Values, images and other factors involved in forced housing decisions

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to identify present housing features and images, the importance of selected housing values, and to find relationships between them and the factors of tenure, income, occupational level, stage of the family life cycle and length of county residence for families who must make forced housing decisions. The sample consisted of 100 Lewis County, West Virginia homemakers who might be relocated for a data and reservoir project. An interview schedule was constructed using questions and scales developed by Ella-thorpe (1963), Montgomery, Sutker and Nygren (1959), Beyer, Mackesey and Montgomery (1959), with added items. Tenure status was significantly related to the family’s present housing features. Occupational level and stage of the family life cycle were significantly related to the family’s housing image. Thoe families who rented their homes were in a lower occupational level or the older stage of the life cycle more often scored lower on present housing features or housing images. The decision to remain within Lewis County after a forced move was not dependent upon length of county residence, income, occupational level, tenure or stage of the family life cycle.