Cohousing offers new solution to growing housing crisis

With many young people on low incomes struggling to access a good standard of housing, replicating overseas models of cohousing could provide affordable homes whilst combating isolation.

Cohousing is an ‘intentional’ community of private homes clustered around shared space, which typically includes a common house featuring a large dining area and recreational areas. These communities are created and run by their residents.

New research by Churchill Fellow Ella Hancock demonstrates the scope for reform in this area in the UK.

Charity worker Ella has recently returned to the UK after travelling to Sweden, the Netherlands and the USA to research affordable social cohousing for young people.

Ella said: “Young people in the UK experiencing homelessness have very limited housing options, often ending up in unsuitable temporary housing where they have little ability to influence where and who they live with.

“There need to be alternative options for young people and one of these could be affordable cohousing or co-living projects which encourage resident involvement and engagement with the wider community and which, if delivered by social landlords at low cost, can help young people access employment and education, and prevent social isolation.”

Ella, from Croydon, is senior best practice officer for Crisis UK, the national homelessness charity for single people.

She said: “I work for a homelessness charity and support organisations to set up shared housing projects for young people experiencing homelessness. I was interested in what role affordable cohousing (delivered by social landlords) can play as an alternative housing option for young people on low incomes, and how the principles of cohousing, especially around the participatory nature of such communal living, and the expectations that residents self-manage, can aid social interaction and inclusion and improve the well-being of young people.”

In Sweden, Ella visited cohousing projects delivered by the state in collaboration with community groups. She also visited established cohousing schemes in the USA and the Netherlands, including one providing homes for a mix of young refugees and young Dutch people.

She said: “In all the projects I visited resident involvement was a key part of their success and vital to resident happiness and well-being. In some projects this meant regular communal dinners or activities, and in others it meant encouraging young people to take on specific roles in the day to day running of the accommodation, increasing their sense of ownership and pride in their homes.”

Now back in the UK, Ella aims to use her findings to produce a toolkit for social housing providers on cohousing for young people.

She said: “I am currently in the process of writing up my findings from my research (and preparing for the imminent arrival of baby number 2!) and continuing to spread the best practice I learnt from the projects I visited to Housing Associations and Local Authorities in the UK.”