We warmly invite you to the next seminar in the CASE Studies series, dedicated to one of the key challenges facing contemporary Europe: ensuring affordable and sustainable housing, and the role that the social economy plays in this process.
Our discussion will be based on the publication Affordable Sustainable Housing in the EU, prepared for the European Economic and Social Committee. This study analyses European housing policies with a focus on social economy structures such as non-profit housing organisations, public-benefit organisations, and housing cooperatives. It identifies models of affordable and sustainable housing, factors affecting affordability, as well as policy frameworks and financing systems applied in different countries.
Housing is not only a basic need, but also a human right, essential for personal development and a sense of belonging. However, an increasing number of Europeans are struggling to find affordable housing. This problem affects both those in the most difficult situations and those who do not qualify for social housing yet cannot afford market prices. The growing housing crisis is deepening inequalities, increasing care costs, contributing to health problems, reducing productivity, and causing environmental degradation.
During the seminar, we will discuss:
- Mechanisms through which social economy actors support the provision of affordable housing – cooperatives, public-benefit organisations, and non-profit housing organisations, often based on resident community engagement, frequently offer lower rents and greater tenancy stability.
- Links between economic, environmental, and social sustainability – including case studies such as the La Borda Housing Cooperative in Barcelona, Wohnpark Alterlaa in Vienna, and the Social Rental Agency in Dąbrowa Górnicza.
- Financing models and tools – an overview of instruments used in EU member states, both on the supply side (e.g., construction of social housing) and demand side (e.g., subsidies, allowances), as well as direct solutions (grants, subsidies) and indirect solutions (tax relief, preferential loans, regulations), and coordination mechanisms in multi-level governance systems.
- The social role of housing – how affordable and sustainable housing can foster social inclusion, reduce exclusion and inequality, and strengthen social cohesion.
The meeting will be hosted by Agnieszka Maj, co-author of the report, who will also invite guest speakers to join the discussion.
We invite you to reflect and engage in dialogue on the future of affordable, sustainable housing.
The seminar will be held in Polish.
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