HOME-BASED ENTERPRISE AS POTENTIAL CATALYST TO STRENGTHEN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the association between the sense of community and the new home-based enterprises, which emerged as a mitigation strategy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and its implication with neighbourhood planning. A set of questionnaires based on a fourfactor dimension of Sense of Community Index 2 was distributed to the virtual communities called 'Bromo Ladies' in a residential cluster at Lippo Karawaci Tangerang. The results showed that independent variables of shared emotional connection and influence correlated more significantly with the sense of community than needs fulfilment and membership dimensions. The findings were triangulated using an ethnographic approach through participant observation. The thematic discussions under togetherness and care and the COVID-19 pandemic had the highest reoccurrence in the virtual community discussion. This study concluded that the new home-based enterprises acted as catalysts for the neighbourhood's sense of community during the pandemic through communication, participation, and informal involvement among virtual community members. This study highlighted an evidence-based understanding of the home-based enterprise's performance and its potential impacts on a residential neighbourhood's quality of life and well-being during the pandemic. This study offered that integrated home-based enterprises' neighbourhood planning could increase a sense of community.