4. Findings - description, synthesis of collected data and analysis This chapter reveals the results of the case study conducted on the GU at Hofheim am Taunus. Firstly, based on the conceptual framework developed for housing evaluation, semi-structured interviews conducted primarily with the inhabitants of the GU provided qualitative data that has been analysed. Simultaneously, the findings from interviews are connected with the mapping of the different amenities, namely, hospitals, schools, police stations, supermarkets, public transportation networks and city administration centres, around the GU to understand the proximity levels. Since the goal of the thesis was not to obtain an exhaustive and large sample of how housing affects the integration and well-being of refugees, but more to understand the meanings, feelings and self-understandings about housing and integration that refugees had, in the analysis, I have prioritized the interpretations of their words. The analysis is approached in a structured fashion. Firstly, a description of the data collected through interviews with the inhabitants of the GU is made, theme by theme. As each theme or housing evaluation criterion is addressed, relevant information from the mapping is included. As the data is described, simultaneously, it is analysed and correlated with the literature review done initially. The description and analysis of qualitative data from the interview of the official social worker are also inserted into the appropriate sections.
As mentioned in the methodology section, ten inhabitants of the GU were interviewed. Four interviewees were from Afghanistan and one interviewee each from Chechnya*, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Syria and Zimbabwe. The sample consisted mainly of middle-aged people, but there were also some school-going respondents, young adults and senior citizens. Four people in the sample, the Pakistani, Russian, Somalian and an Afghan were at the GU, unaccompanied by family. Among the remaining six, two families, from Afghanistan consisting of three and four members, were by religion Hindus whereas the other Afghan family of nine, were Muslims by religion and Pashto was their primary language. The family from Chechnya has seven members and the Syrian family has nine members. All of the above-mentioned families consist of two parents and the rest are their children. All children of school-going age have access to education. Very few are older and are acquiring vocational training in nearby towns and just one young adult among all of them is working. The woman from Zimbabwe was the only exception who was a single woman with two young daughters. One of her daughters is just about to start going to primary school while the other daughter is younger and is differently-abled7. Eight respondents interviewed were males, the only exceptions being the women respondents from
7
As mentioned by her mother, she had a learning disability and had difficulty speaking.
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