Effect of a neighbourhood intervention on social cohesion in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Place-based interventions are a widely used approach to redressing the consequences of concentrated neighbourhood poverty and urban segregation, but relatively few studies have examined the impact of such policies on an important social resource: social cohesion. Social cohesion is pivotal in providing a sense of community, fostering positive relationships among neighbours, and promoting collective well-being. This study examined the impact of a place-based intervention at the neighbourhood-level on social cohesion in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada using a quasi-experimental study with 881 intervention participants across six targeted neighbourhoods and 173 control participants. The findings suggest social cohesion increased in some of the intervention neighbourhoods compared to a control group of Hamilton residents untouched by the intervention. If confirmed by future investigations, these results could inform a re-focusing of place-based initiatives and a shift in their evaluation beyond health and economic impacts to provide greater focus on building durable community social assets like social cohesion.