Tiltai

The article discusses the classic sociological question about the links between poverty and delinquency, whether the urban areas with a dense concentration of people living in social housing, common lodging-houses and hostels are more prone to crimes? Does living nearby such social objects means a higher risk for nearby residents? The article suggests that social housing, common lodging-houses and hostels meant for homeless asylum seekers and their families could only hypothetically be considered to be the areas with higher crime rates. Using the data available at the Department of Social Housing of Klaipėda City Municipality about the location of such housing in the city (localisation structure), the method of crime mapping, and the opportunities provided by a Geographic Information System, we have attempted to evaluate empirically the links between delinquency and the urban areas populated by socially vulnerable and economically disadvantaged people. The article provides the preliminary data of the research. This research has been funded by a grant (MIP-085/2014) from the Research Council of Lithuania.