Conceptualizing Social Sustainability in the Canadian Affordable Housing Sector

The three dimensions of sustainability – environmental, economic, and social – have been well established. However, while economic and environmental sustainability are more easily understood and measured, social sustainability remains less understood. Researchers have begun to study social sustainability in earnest, particularly exploring its connections to urban sustainability, urban form, mixed density and use, and community development. However, the context of social and affordable housing remains an untouched area. Situated in Edmonton, Canada, Capital Region Housing is one of the largest providers of social and affordable housing in the country. We recognize that the current model of social and affordable housing is unsustainable – financially, environmentally, and socially. We are moving towards recognizing that social sustainability is an important concept for the support of our tenants and communities.

We thus conceptualize social sustainability within the context of social and affordable housing. How does a housing provider define social sustainability? What does social sustainability look like for the people that live in social and affordable housing and within the broader community? We understand social sustainability to be multi-scalar and multi-dimensional, and linked to four key themes: equity, inclusion, security, and resiliency. Connected to these themes, we elaborate on new policy innovations to increase opportunities and stability for tenants of social and affordable housing. This paper integrates research on affordable housing, regeneration and revitalization, community resiliency, and social sustainability.