• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.129-145
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate housing cost burden of U.S. households according to current and previous tenure types and explore influences on their housing affordability. The public-use microdata of the 2009 American Housing Survey was analyzed in the following two stages: In the first stage, households were classified into eight groups by combining their current and previous tenure types, year moved into current housing units and mortgage status of current owners and their characteristics were compared. In the second stage, the factors that influenced the housing cost burden by each combined tenure group were explored using multiple regression analyses. The findings are as follows: (1) The mortgage status was more influential than the previous housing experiences of owner households to distinguish one owner household from another. (2) Renter households who had been owners of previous housing units showed significantly different characteristics compared to continuing and new renter households in terms of income, educational attainment, and householder's marital status as well as housing costs and housing cost burdens. (3) To see the multiple regression analysis results, households with different current and previous tenure types were found to have different factors that influenced the housing cost burdens. In addition, household characteristics were found to have significant influences on housing cost burdens as strong as cost-related variables such as annual mortgage payments and rent per square footage.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2018

This study investigated whether housing accessibility plays a significant role in explaining the relation between mobility disability and residential satisfaction of seniors. Also, it identified people who are at greatest risk of mobility disability and living in homes without housing accessibility. We analyzed the 2011 American Housing Survey data with a sample of 20,089 households aged 55 and over living in single-family homes. Results show that although residential satisfaction decreased as mobility became more disabled, the key housing accessibility features were significant buffers against the negative impact of mobility disability on residential satisfaction. Seniors who were Black, low-income, housing-costs burden and renters in older housing in an urban area were more likely to have mobility limitations but fewer housing accessibility features. The moderating effect of housing accessibility on residential satisfaction was much greater for seniors with greater mobility disability. For vulnerable seniors living in an old single-family home, housing policymakers or local communities should consider home modification programs and services after evaluating housing accessibility.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.611-628
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine influence of home energy cost on housing cost burden of Korean and U.S. monthly renter households in urban areas and to explore influences of household and housing characteristics on their home energy cost burden. Microdata for this research was extracted from the 2011 Korean Household Budget Survey and 2009 American Housing Survey. Monthly renter households in urban areas were initially grouped based on household income, followed by a detailed analysis of housing and home energy cost. Findings are as follows: (1) The maximum ratio of home energy cost to household house hold income in Korea was 49% compared to 83% in the US; (2) Energy cost to income ratio were found to have significant influences on housing cost burden and lower income households' housing cost burden was found more vulnerable to their energy cost; (3) In general, the energy cost burden of low-income renter households in Korea tended to be influenced by household size, the number of household members staying at home during daytime hours and housing unit size. The energy cost burden of low-income renter households in the U.S. tended to be influenced by home structure type, size and age, the householder's age, race, educational attainment, the household size, number of wage earners per household, income, and the number of household members between 7 and 17 years of age.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.3-10
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• 2013

The principle of aging-in-place should be fundamental in designing post-retirement homes to support baby boomers' healthy aging in their current living conditions. This study investigated Korean-American baby boomers' opinions about their life images in their post-retirement homes and the needs for supportive services therein. A questionnaire survey was conducted, and a total of 247 responses were used for statistical analyses. As the most important life image for their post-retirement homes, baby boomers emphasized the living environments offering various recreational activities. They indicated the post-retirement homes close to their children or family members as the next important life image. These opinions differed depending on their socioeconomic characteristics. In particular, baby boomers with higher-income preferred housing environments offering diverse recreational activities while those with lower-income preferred the housing close to more employment opportunities. In terms of supportive services available in the post-retirement homes, they wanted 'healthcare assistance services' and 'diverse recreational programs.' Gender, educational attainment, and annual income affected their preferences in these services, though. Based on the findings, this study concluded that post-retirement housing environments should create spaces to accommodate various recreational activities and include places for them to work in near-home environments. In the community, various need-based customized recreational activities and educational programs should be planned considering different socioeconomic characteristics of baby boomers. All these considerations will provide supportive residential environments for their successful aging in place.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.19-26
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• 2015

This study examined whether the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA) in the US provides more home accessibility features and reduces the home accessibility problems of senior residents with physical disability. The 2011 American Housing Survey data with a sample of 2,326 senior residents age 55 and over with physical disability and living in multifamily housing built between 1970 and 2011 were analyzed. We compared senior residents living in multifamily before (1970-1990) and after (1991-2011) the FHAA. The results show that senior residents living in multifamily housing before the FHAA were at a greater disadvantage because they were more likely to live in older buildings located in urban areas, yet paid lower rent and received government subsidies. This study confirmed that the FHAA enabled residents of multifamily housing to have more home accessibility features. However, there was no significant difference in perceived home accessibility problems between the two groups, indicating that senior residents in multifamily housing have experienced home accessibility problems both before and after the FHAA. This study has important implications for housing policy makers to consider home accessibility features for multifamily housing buildings before the FHAA, and to revisit if the FHAA sufficiently compensates physical disability of senior resident living in multifamily housing after the FHAA.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.275-287
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• 2017

The recent Great Recession of 2008 was a period of sharp economic decline throughout the late 2000s. All socio-demographic groups were impacted by the economic downturn, however, Hispanic households were particularly hard hit. It is not a recent phenomenon that minority groups often have greater problems related to credit and debt repayments. A better understanding of these racial/ethnic differences in credit and debt has been hindered by the propensity of many studies to pool all racial/ethnic minorities together and compare them to white households. Using a Heckman-type selection model with a combination of the 2010 and 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances datasets to study household debt repayment problems, we found that racial/ethnic groups have been differently impacted by the recent Great Recession in terms of debt repayment problems. Hispanic households were less likely to hold debt; however, those with debt were just as likely as white households and African American households to be delinquent in repayments. This finding is contrary to prior research that indicated Hispanics with debt were less likely than white and African American households to be delinquent on repayments prior to the Great Recession of 2008. We propose possible explanations for the increase in debt repayment problems, that includes increased assimilation into the U.S. culture of credit use, the circumstance of being more recent home buyers prior to the decline, and living in states that suffered the greatest decline in housing value.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 1997

The user's needs for the American kitchen space were studied. Especially the remodelings and the desirable changes of the rural kitchen space were examined. Pilot study was carried out by the field survey. Questionnaire with 16 open-end items had been collested bt mail in Missouris, U.S. Based on the qualitative analysis of data for 104 houses. main characteristics of users' needs for the kitchen space can be summerized as follows : 1) The residents had changed or updated materials and facilities, and had enlarged storage space to equip more cabinets. Kitchen space had been adapted to new facilities and appliances. 2) The users still wanted to have larger kitchen space, more storage space and newer floor materials. Through this study it can be concluded that users needed kitchen space to be convenient and wide enough to work.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.70-80
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to analyze the interior color characteristics of elderly housing facilities in U. S. A. For this purpose, a field survey was conducted between July 23 and July 31, 2003, visiting 10 elderly housing facilities in Contra Costa County, California. A three step analysis of the facilities involved. First, floor, walls, ceilings, base boards and doors in common spaces were examined for the color scheme using the "Pantone for Fashion and Home Color Guide" for each room. Measured Pantone numbers were converted to RGB color using "Chooser 3.0 of Pantone, Inc." Finally, the conversions were recorded as Munsell numbers. The results are as follows: First, the colors chosen for American elderly housing are high value and low chromatic colors. In many facilities, analogue colors such as BG, B, BP and Y, YR R, RP are used. Second, the colors of ceiling and wall are mainly very bright and low chromatic colors. The colors of floor are undertaking an Important role by generating major atmosphere in the America elderly housing. Third, the colors used for elderly housing are found inter-related. For example, the main color in the lobby is also used from corridor to stair and used again from lounge to dinning room as a secondary color. Fourth, it is found that accent colors are used at the beginning and end of stair and corridor outskirts in consideration of physical condition of elderly people. Fifth, there is no difference in color selection between elderly housing with low and high rental value. Preferably, more versatile colors are being chosen for elderly housing with the low rental value.he low rental value.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.119-127
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• 2009

The main goal of this research was to understand housing environment as well as the living behaviors of Korean people who reside in foreign countries. This study includes examination of dwelling units, especially focusing on dwelling behaviors by space types, arrangement and use of the space, and the according residence patterns of the Koreans in the United States. Focus group interview method and survey method were conducted; photography were taken as a visual evidence; and results were analyzed by researchers. This study strongly indicates that most of Koreans try to keep their own way of living in foreign cultures and rather readjust the housing spaces and living patterns to their own culture. The results from this study have limitations in generalizing all Korean families living in foreign cultures, because a convenience sample was used. Although studies of Korean families in Columbia, MO may not provide information that can be generalized to the entire population of Koreans overseas, we expect that this study provides useful insight in understanding and estimating the future trends in residential planning for Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.85-91
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• 2007

This is a case study for improving the sound environmental quality of cafeteria in university campus. The purpose of the study is to find out the present condition of physical level, type, and cause of indoor noise of cafeteria in university campus by comparison with a restaurant near campus. Research methods were field survey and questionnaire survey. Field survey was consisted of measurement on equivalent and instant noise level and observation on noise type. Respondents of questionnaire survey were 60 students using subject cafeteria or restaurant. Surveys were carried out in the 8th and in the 14th of December 2005. The results are as follows. 1) Indoor noise levels of the cafeteria were measured as $67.2{\sim}76.6$ (average 73.3) dB(A)Leq5min and $60.3{\sim}90.5$ (average 71.2) dB (A), exceeded the indoor noise recommended value of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers). But noise levels of the restaurant were $61.6{\sim}70.4$ (average 66.9) dB(A)Leq5min and $59.8{\sim}70.6$ (average 64.9) dB(A). 2) The users's responses on major noise type in the cafeteria were 'noise by handling equipment and tableware', 'noise by moving chairs', and 'talcing noise', but 'taking noise' and 'background music' in the restaurant. 3) It was found that indoor noise level of the cafeteria was caused by sound reflection of finishing materials, noise diffusion by open type kitchen, and dragging noise of movable furniture.