Rethinking community-based housing for older adults: a research agenda for spatial justice

Abstract

This critical review discusses community-based housing developments for minoritised older adults, examining literature on both top-down sheltered housing and grassroots-developed cohousing projects. It reviews and integrates perspectives from housing studies and gerontology to explore the benefits such housing arrangements provide (shelter, care and support, community) as well as their potential for including minoritised older adults. Going beyond discussions on affordability and accessibility, the paper applies an interpretive spatial justice lens to examine redistributive, recognitive, and representative justice concerning community-based housing projects. Rethinking how research has addressed matters of justice thus far, the paper concludes by laying the groundwork for a research agenda. Specifically, it argues that we a) need to view community-based housing as situated in a spatial context, b) pay attention to how older adults can participate in shaping community-based housing and its surroundings, and c) recognise older adults and their diverse identities within community-based housing.