Belonging is a key to personal well-being

For the past thirty years, social inclusion has been a key value and direction for many community organizations. In Waterloo Region, there have been concerted efforts to make sure that programs, services, and community centres are available to any citizen, regardless of age, ability, and background. Provincially, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) has created standards for communities, businesses, and the non-profit sector, which is gradually increasing access and inclusion for many of our fellow citizens.

In recent years, however, there has been a sense that social inclusion is not sufficient to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation that many citizens experience. Many people do not experience what it means to truly belong in their neighbourhoods or workplaces. Statistics Canada reports that approximately 32 per cent of all Canadians report a weak or somewhat weak sense of belonging to their communities. Locally, the Waterloo Region’s Vital Signs Report has noted declining rates of belonging since 2003, with rates especially low among those aged 20 to 34 years old. Some people argue that “loneliness is the new smoking” and that strategies are needed to enhance a greater sense of belonging among Canadians.

The New Story Group of Waterloo Region and the KW Community Foundation have been spearheading efforts to bring conversations and action on belonging to the forefront. This is timely, given that the United Nations has identified belonging as a human need and right of all individuals. In addition, belonging has been associated with a number of positive outcomes. People who have strong, supportive networks have higher levels of both physical and mental health. Conversely, lack of belonging has been shown to have detrimental consequences, including poorer physical and mental well-being and lower levels of life satisfaction. Genuine belonging and sense of community also breaks down the “us and them” that can be prevalent in communities.

The New Story Group’s Enhancing Belonging project has identified five major themes that municipalities, neighbourhood associations, and community organizations can use to guide their work in moving intentionally toward building neighbourhoods and communities where everyone belongs.

1. Community spaces are open, inviting, accessible, and barrier free. Think how this theme could impact the way we develop our parks, neighbourhoods, housing projects, and community centres.

2. Hospitality guides how people are welcomed and acknowledged. When hospitality is central in neighhourhoods and workplaces, people feel a sense of belonging and trust. Hospitality recognizes the “other” as a valued human being.

3. Opportunities exist for people to participate and contribute in ways that are personally meaningful. Many citizens need support to identify their own strengths and gifts and to find meaningful involvements for these gifts. Organizations that play this “connecting” role, such as Bridges to Belonging, are crucial to enhancing belonging.

4. There is support for people to come together around common interests. Community associations of common interest are the lifeblood of community, where people gather to talk, to explore, to advocate, or to learn. Making sure that these associations are welcoming and hospitable is important belonging work.

5. Belonging is nurtured through policies and practices. If each community association, non-profit group, neighbourhood association, and municipality paid attention to belonging by acting on these themes with appropriate policies and practices, we would slowly reduce loneliness and enhance community well-being. In many ways, we have an obligation to enhance belonging for newcomers and others who do not feel part of community life.

The New Story Group will be releasing its Enhancing Belonging Resource Guide later in October. Each of the five themes will be accompanied by specific strategies designed to nurture belonging in neighbourhoods, municipalities, and organizations. While Waterloo Region is well on the way to becoming a community where everyone belongs, this resource will expand and deepen these important well-being efforts.