More than shelter: Exploring the role of social and affordable housing in shaping women's access to physical activity in Canada.

This qualitative study examines how social and affordable housing (SAH) shapes women's access to recreational physical activity (PA), an important contributor to physical and mental wellbeing and social connection. Drawing on interviews with 73 women with lived or living experience of SAH who participated in a broader trauma- and violence-informed physical activity (TVIPA) study across three Canadian housing contexts, we used reflexive thematic analysis to explore how women experienced their housing environments and how these environments influenced opportunities for movement and community engagement. First, housing stability fostered emotional safety, stress reduction, and routine - conditions that made participation in PA possible. Second, the material features of SAH acted as both an enabler and barrier - while stable housing reduced barriers related to safety and cost, cramped units, inadequate maintenance, and limited or unsafe green space constrained women's ability to be active. Third, the geographic placement of SAH may produce "physical activity deserts," where women were located far from services, transit, and social networks, making PA opportunities inaccessible or unsustainable. In contrast, the communities with intentionally designed communal spaces or nearby maintained parks supported greater participation. Findings indicate that SAH must be understood as more than shelter and revealed that housing policy and design, while often well-intentioned, may inadvertently limit residents' opportunities for PA and community connection. Integrating movement-supportive design, co-located services, and trauma- and violence-informed principles into housing policy and planning is essential for advancing equitable access to PA and promoting women's wellbeing.