Our project on intergenerational solidarity and community-led housing has now come to a successful conclusion, and we are pleased to share its key insights and outcomes.
Across Europe, demographic change, an ageing population and growing social inequalities are creating new challenges for communities. These developments make intergenerational solidarity increasingly relevant, not only as a social value, but as a practical approach to strengthening social cohesion, inclusion and mutual support across age groups. In this context, community-led housing initiatives are emerging as important spaces where intergenerational cooperation can be experienced and practiced in everyday life.
However, despite their potential, such initiatives often remain under-represented in public debate and policy discussions. This project set out to address that gap by exploring how intergenerational solidarity is embedded in community-driven housing models and how these practices can be shared and replicated.
About the project
The project was implemented between October 2024 and December 2025 through a transnational partnership between:
INWOLE (Potsdam, Germany)
Pervolarides Thessalonikis (Thessaloniki, Greece)
ETHOS (Odense, Denmark)
Together, the partners aimed to map existing practices, exchange experiences and develop practical tools that can support civil society organisations, educators and local initiatives working with intergenerational approaches.
What is intergenerational solidarity?
Intergenerational solidarity refers to mutual support, cooperation and understanding between different age groups, extending beyond family structures to the wider community. It is about creating spaces where people of different generations can learn from each other, share responsibilities and contribute collectively to social wellbeing.
In a time marked by social isolation, rising housing costs and fragmented communities, intergenerational approaches offer concrete ways to strengthen social bonds and promote inclusion across generations.
Community-led housing as a framework for solidarity
Community-led housing initiatives place residents at the centre of planning, decision-making and long-term governance. Instead of being passive tenants or buyers, residents actively shape their living environment based on shared values such as cooperation, mutual care and sustainability.
These housing models create favourable conditions for intergenerational interaction by encouraging shared spaces, collective responsibility and everyday encounters. As a result, they can help reduce loneliness, support ageing in place, and foster solidarity between younger and older residents.
Project objectives
The project pursued three main objectives:
Mapping and analysing practices of intergenerational solidarity within community-led housing initiatives in Germany, Greece and Denmark
Collecting and sharing good practices to inspire civil society organisations, local communities and policy stakeholders
Developing a practical workshop toolkit that supports learning, dialogue and capacity-building around intergenerational solidarity
Key outcomes and resources
As part of the project, several resources were developed and made publicly available:
A mapping report documenting practices and experiences from the three partner countries
A workshop toolkit with practical exercises and facilitation methods for educators and practitioners
An analytical report titled “Fostering Bridges across Generations”, combining theoretical perspectives with practical insights
These materials are intended to support organisations and communities interested in developing inclusive, community-driven and intergenerational approaches.
Looking ahead
Beyond sharing knowledge, the project aims to highlight the broader relevance of solidarity-based social models in addressing complex social challenges. By strengthening local actors and fostering participatory approaches, intergenerational solidarity can become a lived practice rather than an abstract concept.
Community-led housing offers one concrete pathway for translating solidarity into everyday action — creating environments where people of different generations can live, learn and thrive together.
Read more about the results
Scan the QR code to visit our partners website and get more insights about the project and the results.
