📜 Context
The report titled "Concrete Actions for Social and Affordable Housing in the EU" was collaboratively developed by a team of housing policy experts, led by coordinator Sergio Nasarre-Aznar, who is recognized for his work in housing law and policy. The publication, released in 2021, is backed by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), organizations dedicated to promoting social justice and progressive policies across Europe.
🏠 Key Findings
The report emphasizes the significant challenges related to social and affordable housing within the European Union (EU). Issues such as affordability are worsened by rapid urbanization, financialization of housing markets, and gentrification, impacting not only low-income individuals but also middle-income groups and younger generations seeking housing.
It highlights the diversity of social housing across EU member states, noting that while the funding, allocation, and management of social housing vary, common characteristics include affordability and a targeted approach based on needs. The report includes in-depth case studies from countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Slovakia, Austria, and Latvia, showcasing best practices and lessons learned in social housing policies.
📊 Policy Recommendations
The authors propose a series of multi-level policy actions to effectively address housing challenges at local, regional, national, and EU levels. The report emphasizes the alignment with sustainable development goals related to housing and encourages innovative solutions, such as shared ownership and temporal ownership models, to enhance housing affordability.
🌍 EU's Role
The report advocates for a coordinated EU strategy on housing, aiming to ensure adequate living conditions for all citizens. It calls for leveraging EU funds and legislative tools to support social housing initiatives, thus enhancing the role of the EU in tackling housing issues collectively.
📚 Lessons Learned
The report concludes with key lessons learned from the research, highlighting the necessity of evidence-based policies tailored to local contexts. It stresses the importance of a continuum of housing tenures to prevent market volatility and maintain economic stability, as well as the value of public-private collaborations to increase the social housing stock. Finally, it underscores the need for coherent legislation to address housing issues more effectively across various governance levels.
🔑 Conclusion
Ultimately, the report outlines the importance of integrated approaches to address the complex challenges of social and affordable housing in the EU, calling for innovation, better stakeholder coordination, and strategic resource utilization to guarantee access to adequate housing for all EU citizens.