FORBES | To have a place you can call home, and feel you belong there, is so fundamental to human wellbeing that those who have it often barely notice it, writes Kim Samuel.

A recent analysis highlights home as fundamental to human wellbeing, identity, and belonging, extending far beyond basic shelter. The ongoing housing crisis, characterized by soaring rents and unattainable mortgages, is profoundly disrupting communities, forcing displacement and severing crucial relationships. This isn’t merely an economic problem; it hinders individuals from establishing roots and thriving. The article proposes a “belonging-centred housing policy” built on three pillars: strengthening renter security against arbitrary displacement, increasing housing supply in strategic areas, and fostering community stewardship via models like land trusts. The ultimate aim is to create places where people can genuinely stay, connect, and belong, not just provide shelter..

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