A Conceptual Framework for Measuring the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for Affordable Housings in Malaysia

Abstract

The benefits of affordable housing extend beyond the number of units built or households housed. The most significant difficulty in the assessment of affordable housing is to measure the cultural, social, and environmental impacts which are often considered 'intangible' and sometimes overlooked. This research involved a literature review, analysis of existing SROI studies of affordable housing, and construction of a Framework for determining the SROI for investments in affordable housing. This paper provides a proposed framework for using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) as a viable way to demonstrate the impact of government spending on housing by attaching a monetary value to the benefits housing brings to residents, housing providers, and the local economy.