Stuck at home: housing and neighborhood conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a case study of Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas

Abstract

This article analyzes the degree of (dis)satisfaction of residents, with their homes and their neighborhood facilities, during the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, centered on the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas (Portugal), methodologically crosses a qualitative analysis (based on a survey carried out among the residents of the two metropolitan areas) with a quantitative analysis (carried out based on official statistical information on housing and on the territorial context). The investigation starts from the hypothesis that dissatisfaction with housing and neighborhood conditions during lockdown was greater for families living in uncomfortable homes, located in territories with poor amenities. The evidence confirms that housing and neighborhood conditions shape the way families lived the lockdown. The article identifies areas with the most problematic conditions and recommends policies that can help to address shocks like this in the future.