This research analyses the concept of social sustainability by examining its operationalization in social housing in Chennai, India. The growing importance of the social aspects of creating sustainable communities has emphasized the need to conceptualize and operationalize social sustainability at various scales within the urban environment, including social housing communities. This need highlights the vital role of socially sustainable social housing in fostering holistic and sustainable urban development. This research is twofold. First, it proposes a framework for assessing the social sustainability of social housing. This framework includes 3 major Social Sustainability Dimensions (SSD). These are i) housing, ii) amenities and infrastructure, and iii) social and cultural life. Each SSD further encompasses five Social Sustainability Indicators (SSI); these indicators serve as the underpinning for the investigation. Second, it examines the framework in Perumbakkam, Chennai, India. Primary data is collected from the case using qualitative research methods such as semi-structured interviews, observations, and archival records. The findings are practical recommendations to enhance the social sustainability of Perumbakkam. The recommendations reveal the roles of various stakeholders that need to be involved with the design of social housing in Chennai, such as architects, urban planners, policymakers, government institutions, and legal advisories.