Towards habitation?—Community initiatives for seniors in Austria and the Netherlands

Abstract Europe’s ageing societies have experienced profound shifts in the provision of (senior) care and housing. While market-based arrangements have become more prominent, community initiatives have also grown in significance. The article investigates the challenges and strategies of community initiatives in Austria and the Netherlands. It aims at contributing to a better understanding of how community initiatives combine the provision of care and housing to create different forms of habitation for seniors. Drawing on an understanding of care as a fundamental human activity, the analysis highlights the role of housing as both a material and social infrastructure that can enable or constrain care practices. To conceptualise this nexus, the study draws on Berenice Fisher’s and Joan Tronto’s definition of care as well as Fred Block’s theory of a ‘habitation society’. Based on four in-depth case studies, the findings reveal cross-country differences linked to distinct care and housing regimes, as well as case-specific variations in organisational models, such as the extent of reliance on voluntary work. Despite these differences, shared strategies emerge across cases, including efforts to eliminate barriers in the built environment and foster reciprocal relationships within communities.