Housing Young People Under Late Neoliberalism

Between declining access to affordable rental and homeownership, and growing inequalities in housing outcomes for young people, scholars have examined both their housing pathways and “solutions” for this cohort. Still, new analytical frameworks are needed to unpack rapidly changing housing situations, and the strategies of young people, families and housing providers in the pursuit of fairer and inclusive housing systems. With five contributions grounded in four distinct housing regimes and using diverse methodologies and theories, this special issue offers concepts and analytical frameworks that illuminate young adults’ agency, capability to leverage resources, and changing time perceptions. It further advances the concepts of housing pathways and resources. While explorations of time dimensions of pathways enable us to move beyond the structure-agency dichotomy, concepts of capability, strategy, identity, and imaginaries enrich current understandings of resources. Overall, this special issue fosters efforts to co-create equal housing opportunities for young adults under late neoliberalism.