A new social deal for stable living ? Promising ways for cities to act in securing housing

In the current context of rising or high unemployment, cities have the duty to strengthen the position of their citizens, especially those with lesser income, which are particularly affected by job market changes. Local action must therefore not be limited to the area of employment but should also focus on increasing security in all other areas of life, like housing. Housing and employment are all the more connected since the loss of one is likely to lead to the loss of the other. Therefore in order to facilitate integration of all inhabitants securing and building inclusive housing turns out as a priority.

According to Heidrun Feigelfeld, preventative multi-faceted measures developed by municipalities for securing housing - such as combining housing, education and employment goals - could avoid the long-term social costs of re-integration into the labour market.  Often, it is not a matter of money but rather of creativity and collaboration across different professional areas and hierarchies!

This paper draws on the work of the URBACT Project SUITE, "The Housing Project" focussing on social and urban inclusion through housing. Nine cities from seven countries (Krakow, Newcastle, Rennes, Tallinn, Nantes, Iasi, Santiago de Compostela, Hamburg and Medway) work together within the URBACT project to find ways to provide sustainable and affordable housing supply and to guarantee social cohesion through social mix and sustainable housing.

The article provides several good practice examples on how to provide affordable and stables homes, on how to reintegrate homeless people into stable living and concerning concerted actions when dealing with the high concentration of unemployment in housing quarters.


Read more:

• Download The Urbact Tribune 2010 (6.21 MB) - URBACT Tribune (page 40) - URBACT Website
• SUITE -  URBACT Website