Housing and Tensions in Jordanian Communities Hosting Syrian Refugees

Status:	Published 1 August 2013 - 31 March 2014
Funded
Methodology:	Data collection started, Data collection finished
Methodology description:	REACH, with support from the British Embassy in Amman, undertook a large assessment in Jordanian host communities focusing on prioritization of needs, vulnerabilities and tensions that have emerged as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The assessment was undertaken over a six month time period between August and March 2014 and included a series of data collection and analysis exercises. First, a desk review was conducted to outline the broad challenges, needs and priorities in Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The findings from this desk review informed the methodology for a key informant assessment in 446 communities in the six northern governorates of Ajloun, Balqa, Irbid, Jarash, Al Mafraq and Zarqa.17 Findings from the key informant assessment were then used to select the 160 host communities most at risk of high tension and insecurity, which were identified based on having the lowest level of resilience.18 REACH then undertook a community-level assessment of Jordanians and Syrians living in these 160 communities from December 2013 until early March 2014. Administration of questionnaires and eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with on average 6 participants per group were undertaken in each of these communities. During the targeted assessment phase 7,158 individual questionnaires were completed and 1,280 FGDs with Jordanians and Syrians were conducted. In addition, REACH hosted six participatory workshops with local government representatives from the six sampled governorates during January and February 2014. The aim of these workshops was to gain a better understanding of perceptions, challenges and needs of local government institutions in providing support to host communities and incoming refugees. In particular, these workshops sought to identify the priority sectors in each governorate to inform programming around social cohesion and resilience. They thereby complemented the community-level data collection to illustrate a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of vulnerabilities and challenges to resilience in Jordanian host communities.
Sampling:	Random
Sampling size:	446 communities
Target population:	Displaced - Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Displaced - Others of Concern, Urban / Rural Population, Host Communities, Other Refugee Urban / Rural Population, Non-Displaced - Host
Target settlement:	Privately hosted, Individual accommodation (not hosted)
Measurement:	Community, Individual, Other

Housing and Tensions in Jordanian Communities Hosting Syrian Refugees

Status:	Published 1 August 2013 - 31 March 2014
Funded
Methodology:	Focus Group Discussion, Community Key informant
Methodology description:	REACH, with support from the British Embassy in Amman, undertook a large assessment in Jordanian host communities focusing on prioritization of needs, vulnerabilities and tensions that have emerged as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The assessment was undertaken over a six month time period between August and March 2014 and included a series of data collection and analysis exercises. First, a desk review was conducted to outline the broad challenges, needs and priorities in Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The findings from this desk review informed the methodology for a key informant assessment in 446 communities in the six northern governorates of Ajloun, Balqa, Irbid, Jarash, Al Mafraq and Zarqa.17 Findings from the key informant assessment were then used to select the 160 host communities most at risk of high tension and insecurity, which were identified based on having the lowest level of resilience.18 REACH then undertook a community-level assessment of Jordanians and Syrians living in these 160 communities from December 2013 until early March 2014. Administration of questionnaires and eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with on average 6 participants per group were undertaken in each of these communities. During the targeted assessment phase 7,158 individual questionnaires were completed and 1,280 FGDs with Jordanians and Syrians were conducted. In addition, REACH hosted six participatory workshops with local government representatives from the six sampled governorates during January and February 2014. The aim of these workshops was to gain a better understanding of perceptions, challenges and needs of local government institutions in providing support to host communities and incoming refugees. In particular, these workshops sought to identify the priority sectors in each governorate to inform programming around social cohesion and resilience. They thereby complemented the community-level data collection to illustrate a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of vulnerabilities and challenges to resilience in Jordanian host communities.
Sampling:	Random
Sampling size:	446 communities
Target population:	Displaced - Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Displaced - Others of Concern, Urban / Rural Population, Host Communities, Other Refugee Urban / Rural Population, Non-Displaced - Host
Target settlement:	Privately hosted, Individual accommodation (not hosted)
Measurement:	Community, Individual, Other

In Jordan, few comprehensive studies have been conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of the key drivers of host community tensions. To address this information gap, this multi-sectoral REACH assessment aimed at identifying where tensions have emerged across northern Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis, and how they could be mitigated through social cohesion and resilience programming. In the shift from humanitarian relief to long-term development, the assessment aims to promote and inform the mainstreaming of a ‘Do No Harm’ approach in the response provided to conflict-affected populations residing in Jordanian host communities. Sectors assessed included: education, external support, healthcare, livelihoods, municipal services, shelter and water.

Main Findings

REACH found housing to be a major source of tension in host communities that were estimated to be at relatively high risk of tension at the time of assessment. Key findings include:  69% of Jordanian respondents considered access to housing in their community to be inadequate, as did 51% of Syrians.  More male (63%) than female (56%) respondents perceived access to housing as inadequate.  An equal proportion of Jordanians and Syrians (44%) rated challenges to housing in their community as ‘very urgent’, with a further 36% of Jordanians and 32% of Syrians considering these ‘extremely urgent’.  83% of Jordanians and 77% Syrians identified access to housing as a cause of tension in their community.  When asked to indicate key reasons behind housing-related tension, the majority of Jordanian respondents (66%) cited a lack of housing, while Syrians most commonly cited high housing costs (51%). The rapid influx of Syrian refugees into northern Jordan has directly impacted the housing market, driving up rental prices and exacerbating an already acute lack of housing.3 This challenging situation has forced many to resort to coping strategies such as sharing living quarters, borrowing money to cover rental expenditure, and improvising makeshift shelters with limited access to basic services. Anecdotal evidence suggests that issues surrounding housing access and availability have resulted in deteriorating social relations between Jordanian and Syrian groups, thereby increasing community tension. With the housing sector critically overburdened, findings suggest a pressing need for more housing support to be provided to Jordanians and Syrians struggling to secure adequate housing in Jordanian host communities. For the purpose of this report, adequate housing does not simply constitute a roof and four walls, but also the right to live in security, peace and dignity.4