Evaluation of residents’ social interaction and social capital in co-housing projects in Hong Kong

Abstract

In response to relieve the high demand for public housing estate, Hong Kong government had promoted the cohousing as a means to provide transitional housing for people to live in. Such concept of cohousing has been adopted by European and North American countries over a decade for the purpose of social cohesion and mutual support. This paper interviewed both residents of cohousing and the social workers who are working on the cohousing projects offered by NGOs. It supported that the cohousing in Hong Kong did functioned in social interaction among residents lived in it. It would also be useful to encourage the mutual help among residents, though only under the existence of social workers. However, it is doubted that such form of living style in Hong Kong can build up and sustain a strong bonding among residents as people only referred it as temporary measures to solve their immediate housing needs. Therefore, this paper advised the social service provider as well as the Government on the form of support and the way of managing this kind of housing. Furthermore, the Government was also advised to stay focus on a long term plan for housing in order to alleviate the housing needs in long run.