Nearly all homeless women with various mental health concerns who took part in a recent co-living programme in Hong Kong showed lower stress levels afterwards, according to the organising NGO.

ImpactHK, which released the findings of the study on Monday, called on authorities to expand co-living facilities and resources, including implementing them in temporary housing.

The 18-month study was carried out by ImpactHK and Shue Yan University. They arranged for 47 homeless women, aged 25 to 80 and suffering from various mental health issues including depression and anxiety symptoms, to take turns sharing a flat of more than 600 sq ft, beginning in 2023.

Ten were found to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. But 95 per cent of all participants showed a more than 50 per cent reduction in their stress and depression levels after taking part in the programme.

“The study helped to rebuild the psychological well-being and self-worth of homeless women,” Dr Bess Lam Yin-hung, an associate professor at Shue Yan University’s counselling and psychology department, said.

The findings showed that co-living had a positive effect on reducing anxiety and other pressures in homeless women, as it allowed them to function as a family rather than a group of service recipients living together, she said.