Participatory methodologies for community strengthening in social housing programs

A proposal grounded in international evidence

Abstract

This article presents applied research aimed at identifying which participatory methodologies used internationally to strengthen community and neighbourhood relations in social housing programmes are useful for social intervention in Chilean social housing contexts. Specifically, the study sought to design methodological guidelines for the Social Support Plan to strengthen community and neighbourhood relations during the construction phase of projects developed on new sites under the Solidarity Fund for Housing Choice Programme. To this end, a social innovation methodology was employed, involving the identification of the problem based on the experience of practitioners working in the programme, the conduct of a systematic literature review on participatory methodologies in similar programmes, and the validation of their relevance and effectiveness by practitioners. Thirteen techniques that promote situated learning, cooperative practices, and deliberative processes oriented towards collective action were identified and validated. These were grouped into three categories: cultural and theatrical methodologies, representational methodologies, and thematic workshops. It is concluded that, although the programme requires structural modifications to promote participation more broadly, improvements can be achieved through the incorporation of new methodologies.