The holiday season is a time filled with laughter, celebration and meaningful connections. Families gather, and communities come alive.
But amid the joy, the holidays also serve as a powerful reminder of an issue affecting millions of Americans: loneliness. While this season highlights togetherness, it can also intensify the isolation felt by those who lack supportive communities or stable housing, a reality that has become impossible to ignore.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness is now a public health crisis, affecting half of all U.S. adults. Its effects go far beyond feeling isolated; it can contribute to serious health risks, including depression, dementia, heart disease and even premature death. This issue is particularly urgent as we continue to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, a period that amplified feelings of disconnection for many.
The holidays are also known to exacerbate these feelings. The National Council for Mental Wellness reports that 70 percent of Americans experience some degree of loneliness as the holidays approach, and more than 10 percent will feel lonely to a significant extent.
The loneliness epidemic is closely linked to another pressing issue: the scarcity of affordable housing in communities nationwide. Housing costs have risen steadily over the past few years, and many individuals and families are now struggling to make ends meet, pushed them further into isolation. The affordable housing crisis is not just about finding a roof over one’s head. It’s about creating spaces where people can build connections and support one another.
What Developers and Property Managers Can Do
For decades, affordable housing developments were built with an emphasis on maximizing space and minimizing cost, sometimes at the expense of creating environments that encouraged social interaction.
Fast forward to today. A growing number of affordable housing developers are now taking a more holistic approach, designing communities that provide shelter and also encourage socialization. New developments often include community spaces. Think activity rooms, playgrounds, gardens and clubhouse kitchens. These amenities are designed to bring residents together, especially ahead of the holiday season.
Property managers also arrange events for residents to mingle and connect throughout the holidays. Activities like door decorating, toy drives for kids, holiday meal gatherings and cooking classes all encourage a sense of belonging during the holiday season. When residents have the opportunity to engage with their neighbors, whether through shared spaces or through coordinated events like movie nights or fitness classes, they are more likely to form meaningful social bonds. These bonds can help alleviate loneliness and its associated health risks. Studies consistently show that strong social ties are a key factor in improving both mental and physical health and that individuals who feel connected to others tend to live longer, more fulfilling lives.
The affordable housing crisis is not just about finding a roof over one’s head. It’s about creating spaces where people can build connections and support one another.
This shift in affordable housing design is especially critical as the nation faces not only a loneliness epidemic but an increasing mental health crisis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five adults lives with some form of mental illness, and social isolation is a significant factor contributing to this rise. Offering on-site counseling, wellness programs and access to local mental health professionals is another important resource for residents in these communities. This access reduces barriers to care, helping to address mental health struggles before they escalate. Providing these services directly within affordable housing helps residents heal and grow.
The need for housing that offers opportunity for social connection has never been more urgent. By creating communities with shared spaces, access to services and opportunities for social interaction, developers and management teams can help address this issue head-on.
This holiday season is a reminder that the fight against loneliness is not just about offering a place to live, but about ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to feel valued in their community.
We must ask ourselves: How can we create communities that provide not only affordable living, but also the space and support that help people thrive? The answer lies in reimagining affordable housing as a tool for social connection, and as a necessary part of the solution to the loneliness and mental health crises gripping our nation.
Victoria Siplin is vice president of corporate philanthropy and community engagement at Wendover Housing Partners, an affordable housing development, investment and management company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Siplin is responsible for relationships with state and local governments, charitable organizations and community partners across the Southeastern U.S.