Shared Spaces, Shared Futures: Enhancing Belonging Through Intergenerational Co-Housing

What if we brought generations together to solve two big problems at once?

Across Canada, many older women live alone. They often feel disconnected and isolated, especially after years of caregiving or low-paid work that did not result in sufficient retirement security. At the same time, young single mothers are facing housing insecurity, raising children on their own, navigating school or precarious work, and struggling to access affordable, supportive housing.

What if these two groups could live together, not just as neighbours, but as a caring, collaborative community?

As someone who works in the social housing sector, I’ve seen firsthand the loneliness that can come with aging alone, and the overwhelming pressure placed on young mothers trying to secure housing and raise children in deeply unaffordable urban markets. I believe we can do better by bringing people together.

This blog explores intergenerational co-housing, a shared living model where older women and young moms live together and support one another in meaningful, everyday ways. Instead of struggling in isolation, they could share meals, caregiving, wisdom, and connection.

This is not a new idea. It’s already working in countries like Denmark and Germany, and it’s gaining attention here in Canada too, where housing costs continue to rise, poverty is gendered, and the population is aging rapidly.

Intergenerational housing has already proven to be a solution to the lack of ability to age in place for our aging population. One example is aging individuals who open their homes to students. This helps them stay in their homes longer and feel more connected. This is shown not only to increase their ability to age in place, but also to increase their social belonging. Canada HomeShare helps to fulfill this goal for those who may own a home, or have a home that is too large for just themselves. When they are facing a difficult decision to sell and downsize, or move into an aging community—Canada HomeSare offers another solution; helping to house young individuals who are in school or working, which allows the aging individual to stay and age in place for longer, while also offering an affordable housing solution to the youth, among rising rental costs.

At its heart, this model is about belonging, mutual help, and building stronger communities. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about creating a more caring way to live; together.

The Problem: Two Groups, One Shared Challenge

Across Canada, women experience housing insecurity differently from men. Housing needs are shaped by gender, and for many women, the path to homelessness is tied to personal relationships.

The Pan-Canadian Women’s Housing and Homelessness Survey found that nearly half (47%) of the 500 women who took part said the main reason they lost housing was a breakup. This was the most common reason, more than eviction, affordability, or safety concerns.

This shows that gender roles and unfair systems still affect women’s access to stable housing. In many cases, men are still the main income earners. When women leave a relationship, they often can’t afford housing on their own.

The same survey also found that 79% of women experiencing homelessness live with a disability. This shows how important it is for housing to be accessible and designed with renters’ real needs in mind.

Many women, especially older women and single mothers, experience hidden homelessness. This means they might be staying with friends or family, or in unsafe or temporary housing. These situations are not often counted in regular homelessness statistics.

The report Implementation of the Right to Housing for Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People in Canada explains that women are often not included in homelessness counts because they are staying in unsafe places to avoid being on the street, but that they are at higher risk for further violence due to their homelessness. With intimate partner violence being a significant factor in women becoming homeless, violence can be both the cause and a consequence of being homeless for women and gender diverse people. With more than 30% of young homeless women experiencing sexual abuse, compared to 8% of young homeless men experiencing the same type of abuse.  We see that the drive to get these young and older women off the streets and into supportive and safe homes is a large priority.

When we look at young single mothers and older women in Canada, we see that even though they are at different stages of life, they often face the same challenges:

• Not enough affordable housing
• Social isolation
• Few support systems
• History of gendered free labour and lack of work

The Solution: Housing That Connects Generations

Co-housing is a type of housing where people live in private units but share common spaces—like kitchens, laundry facilities, gardens or childcare areas. Everyone has their own small private space, but they also work together to create a caring, supportive environment. Up until now, most of the current co-housing projects have been started by homeowners. They group and plan the buildings together. I recommend that co-housing can be used to provide affordable, easy-to-access housing to renters as well. In my experiences at a non-profit running affordable housing, I see individuals who wish they had more say in the way their building or community runs. Those living in these units often have different experiences with the facilities and structure of the building than the developers thought they would. Women have expressed their need for more support and safety within the building. Others have pointed out when infrastructure doesn’t suit their needs. Co-housing could allow them the chance to be involved with the planning from the beginning, and know that their voices are heard.

In an intergenerational co-housing model, young mothers and older women live as neighbours and allies. For example:

• Older residents might help with school pickups or share meals.
• Younger residents might help with technology or heavy lifting.
• Both groups offer emotional support and community.

This is not a one-way exchange. It is mutual support (sometimes called mutual aid), which means everyone gives and receives help.

Learn more about the benefits of co-housing models.

Why Canada, why now?

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) estimated that to address affordability alone, we will need an additional 3.5M affordable housing units by 2030. Rather than focusing only on shelters, intergenerational co-housing offers a people-centred, cost-effective solution that gets people HOUSED, instead of temporarily sheltered.
Co-housing has a focus on smaller, more affordable private dwellings, with a large focus on community collaboration from the beginning. The reduced space needed for the private dwellings can increase the number of dwellings on the land, thus creating more of the necessary 3.5 million affordable units.

This approach also aligns with Housing First principles, which emphasize that access to stable, permanent housing is a necessary foundation before individuals can effectively address other challenges in their lives. While Housing First is often associated with individual units and support services, intergenerational co-housing expands on this by embedding community support directly into the housing environment. It offers not just a roof overhead, but meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging—key factors in long-term housing stability and personal well-being.

What Makes Co-Housing Different?

Unlike regular apartment buildings, co-housing is built around shared spaces and shared decisions. People are neighbours, but also collaborators.

Key features include:

• Community connections: Shared meals, activities, and support are part of daily life.
• Group decision-making: Residents have a voice in how their community operates.
• Natural support systems: Neighbours check in on each other, help with children, or share household tasks.

See how community housing models support social inclusion.

Who Benefits?

This model offers clear benefits for everyone involved:

• Young mothers: Gain help with childcare, emotional support and time to go back to school or work.
• Older women: Experience less loneliness, increased activity and a sense of purpose—ability to age at home.
• The city: Benefits from stronger communities, lower demand on emergency services, and more inclusive housing solutions.

How Can We Make This Happen in Canada?

Here are some steps we can take to support intergenerational co-housing:

• Start with pilot projects: Renovate existing buildings or design new ones with shared spaces.
• Partner with not-for-profit groups: Work with co-ops and community housing organizations that understand collaborative living.
• Involve future residents: Use storytelling nights and design workshops so people can shape their own communities.
• Train service providers: Help urban planners, social workers and housing staff support shared-living models.
• Push for policy change: Advocate for housing funds that support caregiving, mutual aid, and non-traditional housing models.

Rethinking “Living Well”

Our culture often praises independence. But interdependence—relying on one another in healthy ways—is just as important. When people live in connection with others, especially across generations, they are safer, healthier and more fulfilled.

Co-housing isn’t just about saving money or sharing space. It’s about belonging. It’s about making sure that a struggling young mother and a retired caregiver both have a safe, supportive place to call home.

In a diverse and resilient city like Hamilton, this model could thrive.

Final Thoughts

Intergenerational co-housing won’t solve all our housing problems. But it offers a hopeful, affordable and community-driven path forward. By changing how we think about “home,” we also change the kind of country we can become.

A country where care is shared.

A country where everyone matters.

A country where no one is left behind.

Let’s build that Canada—together.