Exploring the social benefits of green infrastructure identified and valued by residents in social housing

Source abstract

Although green infrastructure (GI) is often promoted for environmental benefits, it can also provide social benefits, specifically supporting individual health, cultural identity, and social cohesion. These social benefits may be particularly important for marginalized urban communities, which face many challenges that stress individual and community health. This study adds to the small but growing body of literature examining the social benefits of GI for marginalized communities by examining perceptions and experiences of social housing residents in four ethno-culturally diverse Toronto neighbourhoods. We ask: what social benefits does GI provide for communities with high ethnocultural diversity but shared experiences of social, economic, and physical marginalization? Forty interviews were conducted across the four neighbourhoods to identify themes related to GI and individual health, cultural identity, and social cohesion. We found that residents’ perception of GI extends beyond its physical processes, making it a vital part of daily life. Community gardens, trees, and open green spaces emerged as particularly meaningful for residents, serving as avenues for refuge, prayer, remembrance and cultural exchange, especially for immigrants. GI also facilitates informal social interactions and connections, thereby strengthening social cohesion. This research highlights the importance of GI in multicultural, low-income neighbourhoods to support both individual and community health, and its particular role in promoting cultural identity and cross-cultural sharing.