The Social Security Special Support Zones Project: Community-Led Multi-Functional Shared Spaces

Abstract

Our lives are affected by our living spaces. Many residents of slum communities, having nowhere nearby to go, often find themselves isolated from social connections and cut off from others, ashamed of their neighborhoods and wishing to be elsewhere. The Social Security Special Support Zones Project, in its first round, involved building and operating “multi-functional shared spaces” where residents of underprivileged communities can come together and connect with each other—something they can be proud of having. These spaces serve as community assets, owned by the residents, encompassing not only physical indoor areas but also virtual spaces such as YouTube, as well as outdoor areas where residents can gather and connect. The shared spaces have been used in earnest as places for identifying households in need and providing them with necessary social services, linking various organizations and resources, building inter-community connections and relationships, and learning and engaging in activities for independent living. This article argues, however, that despite all these community efforts, limitations still remain that call for continued support from the central government.