Agyekum, Louis

Sustainable housing is crucial for immigrant settlement and integration in their host countries. This research focuses on achieving sustainable housing for one racialized immigrant group in Toronto. A concurrent mixed-method approach, which involves simultaneous collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, was used to explore how a racialized immigrant group, like Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto, struggle to achieve sustainable housing in Toronto. The quantitative method involves a survey of 145 Ghanaian immigrants, while the qualitative approach includes in-depth interviews with 10 key informants of Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto. Various quantitative data analysis techniques, including univariate and bivariate, were used to examine the relationships between socio-demographic variables and housing conditions of Ghanaians in Toronto. The findings from the quantitative data suggest that, while certain variables, such as gender and age, have no significant influence on sustainable housing attainment, factors such as immigration status, occupation, and income play an important role in determining the likelihood of achieving sustainable housing. For Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto, these factors impact their abilities to achieve sustainable housing. The qualitative data were explored using thematic analysis, which involved identifying recurring themes and patterns. The qualitative interviews revealed themes of barriers to sustainable housing, such as issues of affordability and accessibility. Overcoming these obstacles promotes immigrants' successful settlement and integration. These findings can be used by policymakers, housing providers, and community organisations to develop targeted interventions to address the housing needs of racialized immigrant groups in Canada. This thesis emphasises the importance of sustainable housing for Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto and informs evidence-based policies and practices. It adds to existing knowledge on immigrant housing experiences and serves as a resource for future research on sustainable housing for diverse immigrant populations in Canada and beyond.

Author Keywords: Chi-square, High-rise, Housing Career, Progressive housing, Purposive, Sustainable housing