Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis multiple article path (MAP) dissertation is comprised of three interrelated and independent articles that will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Community Voices for Housing Equality (CVHE) is a participatory action research project that developed organically out of residents' increasing sense of urgency surrounding what many perceived to be increasing eviction rates and unfair treatment while renting. Utilizing a PAR framework created an opportunity to unearth circuits of injustice, challenge dominant discourse of low-income renters as the problem, and take action addressing gaps in policy and shifting power back into the hands of community members to increase housing stability. Chapter 1 provides an overview of CVHE, a structural analysis of CVHE findings, as well an introduction to participatory action research as foundational social work. The articles for this MAP dissertation are located in Chapters 2, 3, and 4. Chapter 2 describes the socio-historical and political context of housing, describes grounds of identity related to race, class, and country of origin, and frames CVHE participant experiences within a structural racism framework. Chapter 3 describes Community Voices for Housing Equality, a participatory action research project examining the experiences of low-income renters with refugee and immigrant backgrounds. Chapter 4 presents participatory action research as a foundation for social work practice and research, uniquely suited to understanding experiences of immigration and resettlement. Chapter 5 is a summary and conclusion of the MAP dissertation