The Limits of Social Capital: An Examination of Immigrants' Housing Challenges in Calgary

Authors

Alina Tanasescu, University of Calgary
Alan Smart, University of Calgary

Keywords

Immigration, social capital, housing, homelessness

Abstract

A common explanation of immigrants' under-representation among the homeless population in Canada is that kinship and community networks act as a buffer to absolute homelessness. There are indications that immigrant homelessness is, however, increasing, suggesting that the buffering capacity of social networks reaches a limit. Further, evidence of precarious housing situations indicates that we should approach this form of housing provision with some caution. This paper draws on a larger study of housing difficulties among immigrants in Calgary to address the ways in which social capital serves a buffering role, and under what conditions it loses its ability to prevent absolute homelessness.

Recommended Citation

Tanasescu, Alina and Smart, Alan (2010) "The Limits of Social Capital: An Examination of Immigrants' Housing Challenges in Calgary," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 37: Iss. 4, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3562
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol37/iss4/6