Combining forced residential relocation with supportive services: What can Dutch housing associations learn from the American HOPE VI programme?

Abstract

Urban restructuring programmes targeting distressed-poverty neighbourhoods have broadened their approach in recent years to address not only physical problems, but also social issues of individual residents. These programmes often include forced residential relocation, due to demolition of public or social rented housing. This paper identifies key parallels and differences in the combined urban restructuring–social service and support approaches employed in the US and the Netherlands. Within the context of forced relocation, important lessons are highlighted, learned from the US HOPE VI programme, which are relevant for advancing the development of the recent ‘behind-the-front-door’ approach in the Netherlands and beyond. Six significant issues are discussed which have key management implications for housing associations taking this approach: the challenges presented to housing associations as they assume the dual role of housing manager and service provider; the importance of offering services beyond the time limits of relocation; the necessity to balance the location and mobility of new services; the complexity of acquiring and maintaining trust and confidentiality among residents; the challenges of determining appropriate programme goals and overcoming fundamental obstacles to progress; and the crucial role of evaluation and research in developing, implementing and improving such complex initiatives.