Initiating Senior Co-Housing: People,Place, andLong-Term Security

Abstract

An increasing proportion of older people are unable to afford rental or purchase of age-appropriate residential accommodation in Australia. This article reports on a community-initiated research project investigating feasibility of affordable co-housing for older residents wishing to age in their community. Factors enabling successful co-housing for seniors were investigated through a systematic literature review. The multiphase participatory research approach drew on the knowledge of local seniors, community support workers, and planning and design professionals through workshops and interviews in a regional community in southeast Queensland. The findings demonstrate interest in and barriers to senior co-housing. The research engagement approach enables tailored solutions for individual long-term security, relevant to small communities in Australia.     

国外“合作居住”（Co—Housing）社区开发过程解析

“合作居住”社区是20世纪60年代最早出现在丹麦的一种新型居住模式。总体上说,其开发过程可以归纳为开始阶段、编制发展计划阶段、编制设计及施工文件阶段以及建造阶段。文章将介绍“合作居住”社区开发的开发模式、主要流程、居民参与过程、建筑师的职能和开发过程中通常使用的一些关键性策略,对这些开发经验加以分析和整理,希望对中国房地产开发提供一些参考。     

The Meaning of a “Sense of Community” in a Finnish Senior Co-Housing Community

In the foreseeable future, alternative housing options will be needed to meet the needs of and answer to the wishes of older people. Co-housing schemes are developed to fulfill the need for a housing type that provides mutual support and social contacts while alleviating the isolation and loneliness often experienced in ordinary neighborhoods. This study on a senior co-housing community in Finland asked what a “sense of community” meant to the residents and how a sense of community becomes visible in daily life. For these residents, a sense of community meant not only living with like-minded people but also communal activities, doing things together, learning from each other, and having reciprocal support, all of which created a sense of togetherness, belonging, and trust. The findings of this study showed that moving in later life can offer a viable option of having a living environment that one likes, which calls for a broader interpretation of housing policy guided by “aging in place” thinking.     

Family Support Center Village: A Unique Approach for Low-Income Single Women with Children

ABSTRACT

The Family Support Center, recognizing the need for single women with children to maintain stability, has developed a program referred to as the Family Support Center Village, which incorporates a service enriched co-housing model. The “Village” will be the catalyst for these mothers' self-sufficiency and will provide opportunities to develop tools for success and independence.