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Understanding the housing landscape in Europe and exploring cooperative solutions
The European Housing Cooperative is grounded in extensive research on the current state of housing in Europe. This section provides context on the housing crisis affecting millions of Europeans and explores how cooperative housing models can offer sustainable, community-driven solutions.
These research chapters form part of an ongoing exploration into the design and development of the European Housing Cooperative as a response to contemporary housing challenges.
This chapter explores the multifaceted nature of Europe's housing crisis, addressing critical questions about its scope and implications. It begins by defining the housing crisis and what constitutes affordable housing, highlighting the diverse experiences across different cities and countries in Europe. The chapter delves into the economic and social factors impacting the housing market, including income levels, rent prices, and home purchase costs over the past 15 years. It examines who is most affected by the crisis, extending beyond vulnerable populations to include middle-class families and younger generations. Additionally, the chapter investigates various drivers of the crisis, such as financialization, rising construction costs, and the impact of short-term rental platforms. It also connects the housing crisis with the climate crisis, discussing how energy efficiency in the built environment poses challenges for achieving climate neutrality. Lastly, the chapter considers broader macro-social implications, such as the effects on the European economy, political stability, and social cohesion, ultimately framing the housing crisis as a pressing issue that threatens the democratic and social fabric of Europe.
This chapter explores cooperative housing in Europe, addressing essential questions surrounding its definition, historical context, and various models. It begins by distinguishing cooperatives from traditional organizations, highlighting their unique governance structures and member participation. The chapter then delves into the evolution of cooperative housing over the past 150 years, noting the emergence of different models, such as rental and ownership cooperatives, and their geographical spread across Europe. Key aspects include the significant impact of cooperative housing on addressing the current housing crisis, focusing on economic, ecological, and social sustainability. The chapter examines how these cooperatives provide affordable housing options and foster community wellbeing, often outperforming market rents. It also identifies challenges hindering the expansion of cooperative housing, such as financial constraints and regulatory barriers. Finally, the chapter highlights successful examples of cooperative housing projects across Europe, illustrating the potential for these models to thrive with supportive policies. Overall, it posits that cooperative housing represents a viable alternative to conventional housing markets, offering valuable insights for future housing solutions.
This chapter delves into the political strategies addressing Europe's housing crisis, examining key conceptual frameworks, historical contexts, current housing models, and strategies at EU, national, and city levels. It poses critical questions regarding the understanding of housing as a human right versus a commodity, exploring how these perspectives influence policy-making. The historical context highlights previous housing crises in Europe, detailing how political programs shaped modern housing markets and the implications of past decisions on current affordability. The chapter also investigates the roles of public, social, and cooperative housing today, analyzing their statistics and relevance across European countries. At the EU level, it discusses actions taken by the European Commission to prioritize housing, as well as national and city-level strategies that governments are employing to combat the crisis. By addressing the challenges and opportunities within these frameworks, the chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the political landscape surrounding housing in Europe and the necessary steps for equitable solutions.