LGBTQ+-inclusive co-housing: queer senses of home in a mixed development

Amidst housing crises, co-housing initiatives have emerged as a strategy to advance social inclusion in European cities. This study examines the experiences of queer-identifying residents within a queer-inclusive co-housing group that is part of the social housing system in Vienna. Through interviews and narrative mapping, we uncover the challenges of creating a sense of home in such environments. Our study shows that mere intentions of inclusivity do not guarantee a feeling of belonging among residents. The findings shed light on the nuanced experiences of community, control, and safety among queer-identifying residents. They underscore the need to reassess normative design and management practices to achieve genuine inclusion and highlight that the inclusion of minoritized groups might require excluding others. The paper thus advocates for a critical mass of marginalized group members sharing similar intentions, recognising the inherent challenges of creating a cohesive community in top-down orchestrated co-housing initiatives.