Housing for the Common Good: Rooting European Efforts in Local Approaches

The document "Housing for the Common Good: Rooting European Efforts in Local Approaches" is published by Eurocities, a network representing over 200 cities across 38 countries, with a focus on ensuring a high quality of life for all urban residents. The authors, Thomas Lymes, Anna Iafisco, and Carolina Picot, aim to address the escalating housing crisis affecting various urban populations, including vulnerable groups and essential workers.

Across Europe, cities are facing a significant housing crisis, which has become a top priority for more than 30% of European mayors, doubling from 15% in 2023. Rising housing costs, stagnating wages, and insufficient affordable housing are undermining social cohesion and urban competitiveness. The European Commission has recognized this issue, appointing a Commissioner for Energy and Housing and proposing the European Affordable Housing Plan to address it. Despite this, there exists an estimated €270 billion annual investment gap in social and affordable housing.

The document highlights various innovative local approaches aimed at addressing housing challenges. These include integrating supportive services with housing, renovating energy-inefficient dwellings, and fostering social cohesion. However, challenges persist, such as sustainable funding, regulatory constraints, and the need for tailored care and social services.

The handbook presents case studies from cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, Ghent, Gothenburg, Lyon, Milan, Rome, Vienna, and Vilnius. For instance, Amsterdam's "Affordable Housing for Starters" scheme aims to improve access to homeownership for essential workers by offering discounted apartments, while Barcelona's "Housing with Supportive Services for the Elderly" targets older residents by providing rental flats alongside necessary support services.

These local initiatives focus on various vulnerable groups, including the elderly, low-income households, and those experiencing homelessness. The Bonn Initiative aims to end homelessness by 2030, while the ICCARus project in Ghent targets low-income homeowners needing repairs. Each initiative showcases unique strategies to promote social inclusion and improve housing affordability.

The document emphasizes the importance of collaboration between municipalities, NGOs, and private partners. For example, the "Home for Workers" initiative in Milan leverages public-private partnerships to provide affordable housing for essential workers, demonstrating how collective efforts can yield sustainable outcomes.

The report concludes with recommendations for scaling successful local practices into systemic strategies. Key priorities include transforming pilot projects into broader EU initiatives, utilizing the Social Climate Fund for equitable housing upgrades, and ensuring that housing policies are integrated into the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive guide for addressing the housing crisis across Europe, emphasizing the need for innovative, localized solutions that can be replicated and supported at the EU level. It presents a hopeful outlook for cities willing to collaborate and innovate in pursuit of sustainable housing for all.