The European Alliance for Collaborative Housing (EACH) published a document addressing the pressing issue of affordable housing in Europe, highlighting the potential of collaborative housing models to address this crisis. The document emphasizes that between 2010 and 2025, house prices in the EU escalated by 60.5%, while rents increased by 28.8%, significantly outpacing income growth. Currently, over 100 million people in Europe allocate more than 40% of their disposable income to housing, with a rising trend in homelessness.
Collaborative Housing offers a viable solution to the challenges posed by the traditional housing market, which is increasingly influenced by profit-driven developers and financial speculation. The document outlines that social housing, under considerable strain, lacks the capacity to meet the growing demand for affordable options. Collaborative Housing models, which are community-led and not-for-profit, provide long-term affordable housing while fostering environmentally sustainable and socially cohesive neighborhoods.
The document defines Collaborative Housing as housing that is collectively initiated, developed, owned, managed, and controlled by residents, with essential support from local and national governments. This approach ensures that housing is driven by community needs rather than market speculation. Notable models include Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and right-to-use Housing Cooperatives. CLTs, which decouple land ownership from housing, prevent speculative pricing and maintain affordable housing for low and middle-income families. Over 600 CLTs across Europe currently steward thousands of affordable homes.
Right-to-use Housing Cooperatives allow residents to collectively own and manage their living environment, focusing on affordability and community. Members contribute to the cooperative's capital and pay a cost-based rent, with any surplus reinvested into community needs. Examples of successful cooperatives include Mehr als Wohnen in Zurich and Habitat & Partage in Lyon.
The document also highlights other effective housing models like Mietshäuser Syndikat in Germany and L'ACLEF in France. However, existing policies often overlook collaborative housing, limiting its growth. The document urges policymakers to recognize and support Collaborative Housing in EU strategies, enabling access to funding and reducing barriers for these initiatives.
To advance collaborative housing, the document recommends establishing dedicated EU funding mechanisms, such as a Collaborative Housing Fund to support grants and low-interest loans for projects. It also suggests facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building through a European Collaborative Housing Hub to share best practices and technical expertise.
Notably, cities like Barcelona and Vienna have successfully integrated collaborative housing into their affordable housing strategies by providing financial incentives and leasing public land at reduced prices. These initiatives not only ensure long-term affordability but also promote social cohesion and environmental sustainability.
In conclusion, as housing becomes increasingly unaffordable across Europe, collaborative housing presents a significant opportunity for communities to address their housing needs. The EU's Affordable Housing Plan can help diversify housing models and empower communities to create sustainable solutions, ultimately leading to more inclusive and cohesive neighborhoods.