Sergio Nasarre-Aznar, Milan Ftáčnik, Núria Lambea-Llop & others
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
2021
🏗️ Context The report titled "Concrete Actions for Social and Affordable Housing in the EU" is a collaborative effort published in 2021 by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). It is coordinated by Sergio Nasarre-Aznar, an expert in housing law and policy, along with a team of authors including Milan Ftáčnik, Núria Lambea-Llop, and Līga Rasnača. The report aims to address the urgent challenges surrounding social and affordable housing within the European Union, a pressing issue exacerbated by various socio-economic factors. 🏘️ Housing Challenges The report highlights significant housing challenges currently faced by the EU, primarily driven by urbanization, financialization, and gentrification. These issues have intensified the affordability crisis, affecting not only low-income groups but also middle-income families and younger generations. The need for effective housing solutions is more pressing than ever, as these challenges continue to grow. 🌍 Social Housing Diversity Social housing varies widely across EU member states, reflecting differences in funding, allocation, and management practices. Common features across these systems include affordability and targeted allocation based on need. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding these diverse frameworks to implement effective policies tailored to local contexts. 📚 Country Studies The report includes in-depth case studies from several EU countries, such as Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Slovakia, Austria, and Latvia. These studies showcase best practices and valuable lessons learned in the realm of social housing policies, providing a rich source of information for policymakers across Europe. 📊 Policy Recommendations Key recommendations from the report advocate for multi-level policy actions to address housing challenges at local, regional, national, and EU levels. The report emphasizes the importance of aligning housing policies with sustainable development goals and encourages innovative housing solutions, such as shared ownership and temporal ownership, to enhance affordability. 🤝 EU's Role The report calls for a coordinated EU strategy on housing to ensure adequate living conditions for all citizens. It suggests leveraging EU funds and legislative tools to support social housing initiatives, emphasizing that a collective approach is essential to tackle the complex issue of housing in Europe. 🔍 Lessons Learned The report concludes with several lessons learned, including the necessity of research-based policies, the importance of a continuum of housing tenures to prevent market volatility, the value of public-private collaboration, and the need for coherent legislation across governance levels to effectively address housing issues.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
Summary of the Report
Title: Concrete Actions for Social and Affordable Housing in the EU
Authors: Sergio Nasarre-Aznar (Coordinator), Milan Ftáčnik, Núria Lambea-Llop, Līga Rasnača
Published by: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
Publication Year: 2021
Context
The report addresses the pressing challenges of social and affordable housing within the European Union (EU). It is a collaborative effort by experts in housing policy, coordinated by Sergio Nasarre-Aznar, a prominent figure in housing law and policy. The report is supported by various European foundations and institutions.
Key Findings
- Housing Challenges: The EU faces significant housing challenges, including affordability issues exacerbated by urbanization, financialization, and gentrification. These challenges affect not only low-income groups but also middle-income and younger generations.
- Social Housing Diversity: Social housing plays different roles across EU member states, with variations in funding, allocation, and management. Despite these differences, common features include affordability and targeted allocation based on need.
- Country Studies: The report includes detailed case studies from several EU countries (Spain, Netherlands, UK, Slovakia, Austria, Latvia) highlighting best practices and lessons learned in social housing policies.
- Policy Recommendations:
- Multi-level policy actions are recommended to address housing challenges at local, regional, national, and EU levels.
- Emphasis on sustainable development goals related to housing.
- Encouragement of innovative housing solutions like shared ownership and temporal ownership to enhance affordability.
- EU's Role: The report advocates for a coordinated EU strategy on housing to ensure adequate living conditions for all citizens. This includes leveraging EU funds and legislative tools to support social housing initiatives.
Lessons Learned
- Research-Based Policies: Effective housing policies require comprehensive research and understanding of local contexts.
- Continuum of Housing Tenures: A diverse range of housing options can prevent market volatility and support economic stability.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Soft measures involving collaboration with private stakeholders can effectively increase social housing stock.
- Coherent Legislation: Avoiding fragmented policies through coherent legislation at multiple governance levels is crucial for addressing housing issues effectively.
Conclusion
The report underscores the importance of integrated approaches to tackle the complex issue of social and affordable housing in the EU. It calls for innovative solutions, better coordination among stakeholders, and strategic use of resources to ensure that all EU citizens have access to adequate housing.