In 2012, a survey from the nonprofit Vancouver Foundation identified a perplexing trend: as the city was densifying in response to its housing crisis, people—especially those who lived in high-density housing—reported feeling less connected to their neighbours. A growing body of research since then has found a correlation between living in high-density urban environments and increased rates of social isolation, due to factors including a lack of secure tenure in rental buildings, poor architectural design, a dearth of green space and limited access to nature, and stigma related to cultural values that equate high-density housing with lower social status.
