Housing policy: Who Does It Best? - Part 1

The podcast episode "Housing policy: Who Does It Best? - Part 1," produced by The Europeans, delves into the pressing issue of housing across Europe. The show is hosted by Dominic Kraemer and features insights from producer and reporter Katz Laszlo. The aim of this series is to explore effective housing policies at a time when public engagement in politics is waning, particularly due to perceptions of governmental disconnection from everyday life.

In this first episode of the series, the hosts highlight the growing concern over housing insecurity in Europe. They point out that inadequate housing options are leading to significant societal issues, including delayed family planning decisions and increasing political extremism. The conversation reveals that housing energy contributes to 26% of emissions, emphasizing the link between housing policy and climate change.

The hosts discuss the widening wealth inequality exacerbated by housing policies that favor homeowners over renters. Research indicates that homeowners spend a significantly lower percentage of their income on housing compared to renters. For instance, renters spend 30-40% of their income, while homeowners spend only 10-16%. This disparity illustrates the structural issues within current housing policies, which are contributing to an "inheritocracy," where wealth and assets are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few.

Vienna is highlighted as a city that has maintained a high percentage of social housing—approximately 50%—which provides a safety net for lower-income residents. This extensive social housing stock helps stabilize rental prices and reduces inequities between different social classes. The episode also introduces Finland's "Housing First" policy, initiated during the 2008 financial crisis, which aims to eradicate homelessness by providing unconditional housing. This approach has been shown to save taxpayers money while improving community safety and vibrancy.

The hosts stress that the current housing crisis is not a natural disaster but rather a result of political choices. They examine historical contexts, tracing back to the late 1800s when the industrial revolution spurred the first housing policies aimed at improving living conditions for workers. Despite past successes, recent decades have seen a retreat from such progressive policies, particularly due to neoliberal influences.

As the episode concludes, the hosts foreshadow the next part of this series, which will explore effective and innovative housing policies in more depth. They emphasize the importance of discussing the root causes of housing inequality and the necessity for systemic change. The episode serves as a call to action for listeners to reconsider the role of government in ensuring equitable housing solutions and to advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of all citizens.