Making Housing Mix Work: Social Cohesiveness of Subsidized Housing Estates in Transitional China

To address the growing problem of poverty concentration and to promote social cohesiveness, housing mix has been widely adopted in cities worldwide. Although attention has been paid to disparities between high- and low-income residents, the low- and lower-middle income (LLMI) residents are often treated as a homogeneous disadvantaged group, leaving intra-group differences underexplored. Using questionnaire data collected from 11 subsidized housing estates (SHEs) in Guangzhou, China, between August and December 2018, this study employed structural equation modeling to examine how housing mix influences social cohesiveness across estates. The results suggested a generally acceptable level of social cohesion among LLMI residents in SHEs, in contrast to the exclusion and stigmatization often reported in high- and low-income mixed estates. Noteworthily, the highest cohesiveness was observed in SHEs with residents mixing at the residential quarter level—rather than within individual units or only at the estate level. This indicated that a moderate degree of housing mix would effectively promote social cohesiveness by facilitating interaction through shared spaces while maintaining spatial boundaries to reduce conflicts. Furthermore, the social environment exerted a stronger influence on social cohesiveness than the physical environment. Social support from local governments and residents’ organizations proved effective in enhancing social cohesiveness by reinforcing residents’ sense of belonging. By highlighting intra-group differences among LLMI residents, this study contributed to deeper insights into social cohesiveness among disadvantaged populations and provided references for the ongoing improvement of the housing system in transitional countries.