Public health should promote co-operative housing and cohousing

Abstract

In promoting healthier built environments, attention worldwide has focused largely on streetscapes and recreational spaces, with less regard given to housing form, in particular to the health effects of communal housing. Research demonstrates that communal housing models, such as cohousing and cooperative housing, promote social inclusion, and increase the perceived well-being and mental and physical health of residents, particularly of seniors. In Canada, relative to other countries, there is a paucity of evidence for the health effects of cooperatives and cohousing. Historically, some Indigenous communities constructed longhouses, connected dwellings situated around common areas, a form which may still be useful in promoting healthy communities. In this commentary, we suggest that improving access to cooperative and communal housing is an important area for public health involvement. Résumé Partout dans le monde, les efforts de promotion d'environnements bâtis plus sains se sont concentrés en grande partie sur le paysage des rues et les espaces récréatifs, et moins sur les formes d'habitation, en particulier les effets des habitations communautaires sur la santé. Des études ont montré que les modèles d'habitation communautaire, comme la cohabitation et les coopératives, favorisaient l'inclusion sociale et amélioraient la perception du bien-être et de la santé mentale et physique des résidents, surtout les personnes âgées. Au Canada, comparativement aux autres pays, les effets de la cohabitation et des coopératives sur la santé ne sont pas suffisamment documentés. Autrefois, certaines collectivités autochtones construisaient des longues maisons, c'est-à-dire des unités d'habitation connectées autour d'aires communes, une structure qui pourrait s'avérer utile encore aujourd'hui dans la promotion de collectivités saines. Dans ce commentaire, nous suggérons que les services de santé publique devraient s'investir dans l'amélioration de l'accès aux coopératives et aux habitations communautaires.

The effects of cohousing model on people’s health and wellbeing: a scoping review

“…The cohousing model has also attracted the attention of public health [33]. The driving motivation is to provide evidence of the increased quality of life among people living in cohousing, which is often an objective of cohousing projects but is rarely assessed, to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.…”

“…The driving motivation is to provide evidence of the increased quality of life among people living in cohousing, which is often an objective of cohousing projects but is rarely assessed, to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. From the point of view of health promotion, the expansion of this model is related to the need to respond to the phenomenon of social isolation through community-based housing models that promote healthy built environments and foster people's social cohesion [33]. Furthermore, the cohousing model is credited with the ability to improve the affordability of housing [18], which is known to be beneficial to the wellbeing of the population.…”

Smart Co-housing for People With Disabilities: A Preliminary Assessment of Caregivers’ Interaction With the DOMHO System

“…The co-housing experiences in Europe and worldwide positively correlate with social inclusion and increasing feelings of wellbeing, self-efficacy, and esteem (Lubik and Kosatsky, 2019). It is currently impossible to exclude from this discussion the COVID-19 pandemic, which has inevitably worsened the health risks for people with disabilities.…”

Sharing indoor space: stakeholders’ perspectives and energy metrics

“…Several studies have investigated the advantages and drawbacks of space sharing from the users' perspective. The advantages of space sharing include access to affordable high-quality premises, reduced isolation and strong social networks (Lietaert 2010;Lubik & Kosatsky 2019;Wang & Hadjri 2018;Williams 2005b). Drawbacks can include overcrowding, stress and psychological distress (Evans 2003;Fuller et al 1996;Marsh et al 2019;Solari & Mare 2012).…”