Overview of the Quarterly Network Journal
The first issue of the CITIES 4 COâHOUSING â Quarterly Network Journal presents the activities and progress of the URBACTâled Cities 4 CoâHousing Innovation Transfer Network for the period MayâAugust 2025. Authored by Dr Orna Rosenfeld (URBACT Lead Expert) with design by Katharine Mugridge and cover photography by CLTB (Community Land Trust Brussels), the journal documents the networkâs efforts to promote affordable, sustainable housing across Europe through the transfer of the CALICO projectâs innovative practices.
Key Themes and Modules Transferred
The network focused on the most complex CALICO modules: TM3 Legal & Financial and TM4 Building. Partners exchanged knowledge on community landâtrust structures, longâterm affordability mechanisms, and energyâefficient building standards. Workshops employed the OPERA method, World CafĂ©, and iterative coâdesign to generate nearly 50 testing actions, which were compiled into an online Testing Actions Bank for ongoing use.
Partner Contributions and Activities
Five European cities â Brussels (lead), Vila Nova de Gaia, Fuenlabrada, Naples, Thessaloniki, and NikĆĄiÄ â participated actively. Highlights include:
- A transnational meeting in Vila Nova de Gaia (26â28 May 2025) where partners coâcreated testing actions and refined investmentâplan drafts.
- Local URBACT Local Groups (ULGs) conducting surveys, workshops, and stakeholder meetings to adapt CALICO tools to regional contexts.
- Development of testing actions such as residentâled design workshops, solarâpanel feasibility studies, and solidarityâcondominium models.
Financial Data and Funding Overview
The CALICO projectâs original budget was approximately âŹ10 million, with âŹ5 million from the European Regional Development Fund. Current network partners report varied funding situations: Vila Nova de Gaia accesses âŹ143 million in EU funds through 2026; Fuenlabrada secured âŹ6 million via the EU SHARE project; NikĆĄiÄâs solarâpanel initiative totals âŹ85 000, expected to generate âŹ12 000 annual revenue for community services. Overall, the networkâs testingâaction bank and investmentâplan drafts reflect a mixed financing strategy that combines EU coâfunding, ethical loans, and local subsidies.
Progress on Investment Plans
Sections 1 and 2 (needs analysis, policy response, and investment proposal) are completed for all partners. Section 3 (investment case and budgeting) is underway, with detailed costings for actions such as the âŹ6.15 million renovation of San Esteban Public School (including âŹ4.92 million EU coâfunding). Naplesâ Stadera 1.3.7 Solidarity Condominium project involves 24 apartments and commercial spaces, while Thessaloniki secured a vacant public building for a 10âunit pilot coâhousing scheme.
Methodologies for CoâCreation
Three participatory methods underpinned the testingâaction development:
- OPERA â individual reflection, pair discussion, group presentation, ranking, and clustering.
- World CafĂ© â rotating table discussions to explore specific CALICO modules.
- Iterative CoâDesign Workshops â multiâstage refinement of testing actions across groups. These approaches ensured that actions were both ambitious and broken down into concrete, measurable steps.
Impact on Sustainable Housing Across Europe
The journal demonstrates how the Cities 4 CoâHousing network translates highâlevel policy concepts into local practice, fostering communityâowned land, energyâefficient retrofits, and inclusive governance. By documenting concrete actions, funding structures, and collaborative processes, the resource offers a replicable model for other regions seeking to address housing affordability and sustainability challenges.

