Unlocking social connections in multi-unit housing: Insights from our 2021-2022 resident surveys
New findings on the social wellbeing of residents.

Creating a sense of community and social connection is a challenge in fast-paced urban life. As Metro Vancouver embraces densification and complete communities, attention to the social quality of life for residents in multi-unit apartment buildings is crucial (Metro 2050).
Apartment dwellers often have limited private living space and building rules may prevent them from making shared areas their own. Understanding resident social life and well-being is integral to inform the policies, programs, processes and designs that may encourage social connections. Recognizing this, our team has conducted multiple resident surveys with two housing partners since 2020: Brightside Community Homes Foundation and Catalyst Community Developments Society.
Here, we discuss findings from the recently completed Hey Neighbour Collective (HNC) report ‘How sociable is life in multi-unit housing?’. This report provides aggregated and comparative results of two annual resident surveys (2021 & 2022) across the properties of HNC members Brightside Community Homes Foundation and Catalyst Community Developments Society. In 2021, surveys were distributed to 1053 households across partner properties, with 308 returned. In 2022, 1302 households received surveys, and 417 were returned.
We talked to a range of residents 18 to 90 years. However, the majority of respondents were over 65 years old. A significant proportion lived alone. There were relatively few children in our sample. Moreover, unlike the overall B.C. population, most respondents rely on public transportation to get around. The traits of the residents we heard from are associated with a higher risk of social isolation, as well as fewer opportunities for social connections and neighbourly relationships.
The findings of this report should be useful to policymakers, planners, housing providers and other individuals and organizations who are seeking a clear baseline understanding of resident well-being, in ways that inform the development of targeted strategies for building neighbourly social connections.
Identifying key drivers of social connection over time
We asked residents about their experiences with social connection across a variety of indicators. The surveys included questions about their neighbourly relations, social networks and connectedness, social isolation and loneliness, sense of belonging, well-being, safety and the impact of COVID-19, access to services and transportation, as well as resident communication with housing providers. Survey questions were revised over time to reflect our evolving understanding of resident conditions and needs and to better align language and variables across the two housing providers.
By learning from survey respondents over the two-year period, we were able to establish a baseline understanding of key drivers which improved the social quality of life for residents.

Key takeaways
Let’s dig into some of the report’s primary findings.
Aging in place is a key concern: Both of the housing providers we worked with managed buildings with a high proportion of residents over 65 years old. As such, a majority of our respondents lived alone, did not have children living with them, and regularly took public transit. For these residents in particular, maintaining an active sense of community and social engagement were cited as essential components for fostering well-being and aging in place.
Neighbourly connections foster wellbeing: A majority of respondents stated that they knew at least a few of their neighbours, with more residents seeking to know their neighbours better in 2022 than in 2021. Pro-social habits, like having conversations a few times a week with neighbours, were linked to lower feelings of loneliness. Respondents with fewer close friends, meanwhile, were more likely to report deteriorating physical and mental health.
Community appreciation is a silver lining of the pandemic: A majority of respondents reported an increase in social isolation due to COVID-19 measures like social distancing and lockdowns. Respondents also noted, however, that the pandemic had given them a greater appreciation of neighbourly relationships, and a deeper sense of community. The study also highlighted the importance of access to green spaces, with respondents who lost access during the pandemic more likely to report worsened feelings of social isolation.
Sociable design makes a difference: As is also being explored in the HNC Building Social Connections series, many residents expressed a desire for more possibilities to connect with their neighbours in shared or common spaces, which they identified as the primary settings for neighbourly conversations and interactions. Some respondents told us they felt comfortable asking their neighbours for help when needed, while others were more reluctant. Making friends was especially hard for residents who had recently moved into their buildings.
Safety and tenant-landlord relationships matter to residents: A sense of safety and positive relationships with landlords are important factors in building strong communities, according to our survey findings. Respondents who described their housing provider as approachable were 2.5 times more likely to feel welcome in their building and cite a sense of belonging. Respondents who could NOT identify an unsafe area in their building were 4.3 times more likely to feel welcome in their building. Findings like these emphasize the importance of positive relationships between residents and housing providers and designing for a sense of safety in building strong communities.

Neighbourly connections, positive impacts
Our comprehensive analysis across two years of resident surveys offers valuable insights into the social factors that influence residents’ quality of life in multi-unit housing over time. .
Neighbourly connections foster a supportive social environment with far-reaching positive impacts. They contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities, strengthen landlord-tenant relationships, and enhance overall safety within the community. Continued collaboration between housing providers, researchers, and residents is essential for identifying future challenges and opportunities for building social connectedness.
Through the implementation of targeted initiatives and social programs, we can create vibrant, connected, and inclusive communities, in ways that enrich the lives of residents of all ages.
We look forward to your insights on the report. We invite further feedback and discussion on the HNC Twitter and LinkedIn, and you are also welcome to join our eNewsletter to keep in touch.