This research addresses an identified evidence gap around the link between loneliness and participation in community-led housing (cohousing in particular). The study is the MHCLG's contribution to the government’s 2018 Loneliness Strategy, which seeks to embed loneliness as a consideration across government policy.
Researchers have found that social connection with neighbours and sharing spaces with others—both features of community-led housing--are essential to place attachment and wellbeing, which in turn may help prevent loneliness. The most successful interventions to alleviate loneliness foster meaningful social interaction through sustainable, community and place-based solutions.
Within government, support for CLH and interventions around loneliness have until now proceeded largely on separate tracks. The reasons for supporting CLH have not related specifically to loneliness but rather to housing need, affordability and empowering local communities. Our empirical work provides evidence as to whether supporting CLH could contribute to combating loneliness.
