Social Impact Assessment and Housing Outcomes of Transitional Housing: A Longitudinal Study in Hong Kong

Transitional housing (TH) has emerged as a promising solution to ease Hong Kong’s severe housing pressures, particularly for low-income residents enduring substandard conditions while awaiting public housing. This study evaluates the social impact of United Court, Hong Kong’s first large-scale Modular Integrated Construction (MIC) TH project, which provides 1,800 units to families and individuals on the public housing waiting list. A longitudinal quantitative study was conducted, including two waves of data collection (T1: 4 months post-move-in; T2: 22 months post-move-in) from 110 households. Inspired by the infrastructure turn of housing studies, this study attempted to provide a more holistic evaluation of TH housing outcomes and gathered data on living conditions, housing security, well-being, and social relationships by using structured questionnaires and validated tools. Results indicate significant improvements in residents’ living conditions, including increased living space, reduced rent burden, and enhanced housing security. The median rent-to-income ratio decreased from 43.1% in prior residences to 28.5% by T2. Residents reported better ventilation, natural light, and access to community facilities. Psychological well-being were also improved, with lower rates of depression and anxiety (PHQ-2 and GAD-2). Increased participation in community activities and improved neighborhood relations further underscore the social benefits of TH. This study highlights the potential of TH as an effective stopgap measure, improving both living conditions and well-being for low-income residents in housing-stressed regions like Hong Kong.