Diana Yordanova, communications director at Housing Europe, one of Eusew’s partner organizations, explores how the EU’s affordable housing initiative is transforming sustainable, inclusive and affordable housing .
As housing affordability puts pressure on people living in major European cities, the EU’s affordable housing initiative is moving into another gear.
In the second phase, 35 new lighthouse districts will be supported, making them inclusive, energy efficient, sustainable spaces and affordable in the core.
The programme addresses energy poverty, promotes inclusion, ensures affordability and reduces emissions through tailored guidance such as financial advice, mentorship and capacity building.
This EU-funded initiative, which coordinated Europe with EBC, ECTP, Energy Cities, GNE Finance and Sintef, is the first European affordable housing under the guidance of a new EU commissioner for energy and housing. Set important benchmarks for your plan.
The challenges of European housing we need to tackle head on
The European housing crisis has shown no indication that more families are heading towards instability as rents are surged and affordable options are lacking.
Home prices in the EU were 50% higher in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the beginning of 2010, while rent prices rose 23%, with some EU countries exceeding 100%. It’s increasing.
Furthermore, new economic and social realities have forced people who once didn’t have to struggle with publicly supported housing in the private market.
According to Housing Europe, 9.6 million full-time workers, ages 25-34, still lived with their parents in 2022.
At the same time, the challenges facing the nonprofit housing sector have increased significantly, prompting reporting long social housing waiting lists in most regions.
Rather than reinventing the wheels, learn from proven housing models
The Affordable Housing Initiative, announced as part of the EU’s renovation wave, wants to provide more than temporary relief to struggling European communities.
Beyond affordable retrofits and energy efficiency, the Affordable Housing Initiative is funded by a single market program, but it also builds resilience, improves livability, renews lifespan and resources It focuses on building for use and efficiency.
With a budget of around 1 million euros jointly funded by the EU, the programme is on its mission to transform communities and neighboring housing. It offers practical, action-oriented advice drawn from successful case studies and fresh, innovative ideas.
Through hands-on workshops, inspiring site visits, and dynamic online courses, participants will learn how to reduce energy bills, address social inequality, and ensure long-term affordability of the home.
This is a fast-paced journey into more sustainable and inclusive housing that not only reduces emissions but also brings lasting change.
Phase I success
To understand the impact of the Affordable Housing Initiative, you will need to look for 22 districts supported over the past two years. They benefited from customized training that linked energy efficiency to social inclusiveness.
Public, cooperatives and social housing providers, small businesses and cities are equipped with solutions for comprehensive renovations, including three blueprints on financial feasibility, technology and social inclusiveness. Masu.
The initiative also created a fundraising simulator to help projects across Europe navigate public and private fundraising.
By scaling proven housing models with the spotlight, this initiative will establish new standards rooted in community well-being, sustainability and innovation, setting the stage for a future of more sustainable and equitable housing. Masu.
Good examples hid everywhere
In the Basque Country, the Opengela Project has established two nearby offices as one-stop shops to guide the renovation of green energy in Otxarkoaga and Txonta.1.
An innovative “Mas Opengela” funding model that combines public and private funds allows low-income households to secure 15 years of loans and fill the gaps left by affordable bank loans .
ÖREBROBOSTäder was Sweden’s first public housing provider, and as a condition of procurement, it included the obligation to employ unemployed residents as construction workers for a limited period of time. Furthermore, interventions were planned to promote social cohesion in the neighborhood.
Tallinn’s Mustama district tackled multiple ownership challenges by presenting community meetings and local success stories. The technical solutions developed by Tallinn University of Technology, including modular and industrialized building systems, were steered to efficiently modernize the home.
Resident co-creation supported a decade of revitalization in Aalborg East (Denmark), led by social housing provider Himmerland Boligforening.
With a national funding framework and intersectoral approach, regeneration has transformed No-Go neighborhoods into multiple award-winning neighborhoods with a focus on improving quality of life, lower crime rates and increasing levels of education for residents. Ta.
A truly fair housing revolution is within reach
By 2050, the EU aims to achieve climate neutrality, and an affordable housing initiative is essential to its vision.
Affordable residential areas are examples of promoting environmental progress while providing transformative social benefits. It is a clear challenge for the government and developers as well. A truly fair housing revolution is within reach, but only if Europe learns from its own success.
Recommended links for further investigation
BluePrints Threative Districts Best Practices Handbooks Open Call for the Affordable Housing Initiative Learning Program
About the author
Diana Yordanova, Director of Communications at Housing Europe. Housing Europe is the European Public, Cooperatives and Social Housing Federation. Since 1988, it has become a network of 45 national and regional coalitions as well as 16 partner organizations in 31 European countries. Together, they manage about 11% of the existing homes in Europe, about 25 million homes.
Disclaimer: This article is a contribution from a partner. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
Neither the European Commission nor is it liable for any use that may be made from the information in the article by anyone acting on the Commission. The only opinion expressed is the author and should not be considered representative of the official position of the European Commission.
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