Abstract
Wellbeing depends, in part, on whether transport and mobility systems enable people to meet their everyday needs. Mobility shapes access to essential services, employment, and social participation, all of which underpin physical and mental health.
This report examines the relationship between transport and the everyday wellbeing of people living in social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch, specifically those in Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (ŌCHT) homes. The research explored:
• Social housing residents' transport practices and preferences, with a focus on access to to sites of food supply, healthcare, and social connection.
• The nature and extent of barriers that limit access to these places.
• How residents’ ability to access daily activities via available transport affects outcomes such as food security, loneliness, and physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The research found that for residents of social housing, wellbeing is closely tied to whether transport systems allow them to live ordinary lives: to shop for food, attend healthcare, and sustain relationships. This study shows that when those opportunities are not available, wellbeing suffers. Food insecurity and loneliness have especially strong effects, while missed healthcare contributes to disadvantage in more limited but still important ways.
Improving access for social housing residents requires integrated solutions: more affordable transport options, better connections to food and healthcare, and infrastructure that supports social participation. Changes aimed at improving access for this population have the potential to reduce isolation, improve health, and enhance quality of life.