Intergenerational Housing: Promoting Social Links Between Generations
Download
Read an extract
Themes
Intergenerational housing, social mixity, sustainable economic models, collective decision making, vulnerable population, senior citizens, young adults, housing policy, social link, intergenerational solidarity
Reader
Abstract
Extract
of 10
Abstract
Intergenerational housing is an innovative solution that brings together people of different ages, fostering social connections and community building. This type of housing is designed to promote mutual support, understanding, and solidarity among its residents, typically young people and seniors. By sharing domestic space, individuals from various backgrounds and age groups can develop meaningful relationships, helping to combat loneliness and isolation. The main objectives of intergenerational housing include promoting social mixity, revaluing intergenerational bonds, and preserving solidarity between generations. However, implementing such housing models can be challenging, with issues arising from the balance between private and common life, as well as the distribution of roles and responsibilities. To overcome these challenges, it's essential to develop sustainable economic models, adapt rent and participation costs to residents' incomes, and secure public funding by aligning with sectoral policies. By understanding the complexities and benefits of intergenerational housing, we can work towards creating more effective and harmonious living environments that support the well-being of all residents.
Extract
[...] In this case, we note that the offer of intergenerational housing is found on the market before being carried by public or private actors other than civil society. During the development of these offers, the emphasis will thus be placed on functional characteristics, particularly turned towards services and performances. The two other characteristics that allow establishing a differentiation between the different types of generational housing are based on structural and economic characteristics. Co-living and cohabitation will thus tend to centralize the problems around the sharing of domestic spaces, while the implementation of large-scale structures, such as solidarity neighborhoods or generation houses, will question the insertion of housing in public space and accessibility issues. [...]
[...] To this end, the state's labelling of intergenerational housing appears necessary. This optimisation of the economic model also passes through a more transparent understanding of the motivations of the beneficiaries, particularly by taking into account the economic logics of these individuals. 4. Optimization and requalification of human resources; This would involve identifying the skills and knowledge of the actors involved among themselves, such as volunteers, professionals, members of the organization and others, as well as contractualizing the involvement of residents and their entourage, for example, the services provided, the volunteering of seniors or family support. [...]
[...] www.quartiers-solidaires.ch/data/documents/Methodologie/131024_rap_eval_QS_VD_def.pdf CRESGE - Université Catholique de Lille. (2010). "The intergenerational housing: evaluation of the offer and potential demand, role of public policies / Hervé Barry, Agathe Douchet, Ingris Fourny, Anne Lescieux, Julien Salingue." Dossier d'Études CNAF, n° 132, 117p. Bigonnesse, Catherine & Garon, Suzanne & Beaulieu, Marie. (2013). "" An approach to community development in the housing sector for seniors: a case study in Témiscamingue. Intervention, the Journal of the Quebec Order of Social Workers and Family and Couple Therapists. Issue 139 (2013.2): 26-39. [...]
[...] This involves better involving territorial collectivities. Municipalities and metropolises are indeed more able to feature intergenerational housing projects in local urban planning plans, identify local associative partners, and make municipal agents available, for example, dedicated to maintaining elderly people at home. The strong Spanish decentralization explains why the first intergenerational housing models emerged there and why relatively stable models despite the economic crisis have emerged, investing key actors (universities, banks, local services). All partners must be mobilized from the conception phase of a dedicated structure for intergenerational housing to ensure a fair balance between public service, associative action often strong in values, and the profitable interest of landlords. [...]
[...] This is therefore a tool that can also be useful for housing policies in their entirety. These motivations are especially valid for public actors. On the side of private actors, it is often a matter of being able to expand an offer of services and possibly to inscribe themselves in the line of solidarity policies that can generate public subsidies. This is valid for both landlords and associations. It seems important to emphasize that the objectives of the latter tend to vary according to the values to which they identify and their core business (Barry et alii, 2010). [...]
