Closing the generational divide

As kids move out, the homes parents live in can become emptier as they get older. Often, there’s a lot of space going unused.

In the Netherlands, organisations such as Humanitas have an intriguing solution for what to do with that space, make rents more affordable, and fight loneliness: have the young and old live together. Young people who take part in the Humanitas programme live rent-free in exchange for 30 hours of volunteer work per month, during which they help their older flatmates in various activities, from teaching computer skills, having meals and meaningful conversations together, and more. Since it started a few years ago, the programme has proven wildly popular in the Netherlands, where there’s a serious lack of affordable housing. Covered extensively by media and lauded by organisations like the World Economic Forum, similar programmes are now in cities like the Finnish capital of Helsinki and Exeter in England.

Aside from helping to solve the issue of unaffordable housing, especially for university students and those who might not have full-time careers, Humanitas CEO Gea Sijpkes points out the social benefits – which in turn have health benefits, as studies have shown happier people live longer.

“A smile a day for everyone, including the elderly, is what should be aimed for worldwide,” she explains.