PUBLIC-HOUSING - THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF USI NG INHABITANTS

On the basis of several surveys of public housing agencies, question a re raised about renters participating in public housing decisions (abo ut renovation, apartment assignments or repairs). This idea, a seconda ry factor during the years of economic growth, has assumed importance since the 1980s, since central and local governments have wanted to im plement broader policies. But it has been put into practice on a limit ed scale in the housing agencies. Reasons for this nonparticipation ar e examined: inhabitants' lack of motivation, resistance from housing p ersonnel, and differences with agencies' inhouse principles of organiz ation. At most, during ''quality programs'', inhabitants could be invo lved as clients through a marketing approach. The principles of effici ency now in order have little to do with the ideas about participation that prevailed in initial experiments.