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Social housing: looking back, moving forward
We embraced change to deliver the future
As part of the 1st International Social Housing Festival (ISHF), Housing Europe- the European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing and its member, Aedes- the Federation of the Dutch Social Housing Associations, hosted a broad debate on the future of housing.
More than 140 participants, representing local authorities, social housing associations and tenants, architects and academics, researchers and members of the civil society came together on June 15th at Westerunie to get inspired, to discuss and to plan actions for the future vision concerning the provision of affordable housing.
This is how the day unfolded... Visit our website for a Storify report, all the presentations held during the day, summaries of the sessions by the International Social Housing Festival team of reporters, an overview of the online polling results, the videos of the European Responsible Housing Awards winning projects that were presented at the break, dozens of pictures and more…
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The 1st International Social Housing Festival concludes
After nine enriching days, more than 50 events organized by 45 partners, equalling more than 250 hours of programming at nine different venues, the first International Social Housing Festival has come to an end. More than 1200 people from 50 different countries, including policymakers, housing associations, local and international tenant unions, non-profit organizations, activists, bankers, students, researchers, architects, developers, and private businesses came together for a vivid open platform for exchange around the way we want to live in the future.
Visit the ‘News’ section of the Festival website to read reports from all events, to watch the video from the closing event and to have a look at hundreds of pictures that will give you a taste of the ISHF atmosphere!
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"Social housing should be at the core of social Europe" - Meet our new President, Cédric Van Styvendael
The weather was excellent in Amsterdam throughout the International Social Housing Festival, so we decided to meet outside in the shade a few hours before his official election as the new President of Housing Europe, the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing. After many years of experience in France, making strong impact in the Metropolitan Region of Lyon and in Villeurbanne in particular, Cédric Van Styvendael, 43, decided that it was time to try to have his mark at EU level, leading for the next years the work of 43,000 housing providers from 24 countries. We thought a quick set of ping pong was the best introduction to Cédric and his work. Instead of winning points, he had to give responses to 11 questions in order for us to leave him alone! Let’s serve…
Read the interview
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Housing Europe welcomes KOVA as its new member and new partners | The Pubic, Cooperative and Social Housing Family in Europe is growing
At its annual General Assembly that took place in Amsterdam on 16 June 2017 Housing Europe welcomed the Association for Advocating Affordable Rental Housing- KOVA as its new member organization from Finland. At the same time, the network of partners of the European Federation is expanding with Habitat for Humanity, Fondazione Housing Sociale and Social Housing & Property Rights in Kosovo (SHPRK) adding themselves to this new form of cooperation.
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On the right track to getting more clarity on the EU’s approach to Housing
Public intervention in housing is needed more than ever, whether that is to address homelessness, needs of an ageing population or youth excluded from the market, climate change, integration of migrants or simply supply not meeting demand. Housing needs vary greatly depending on the local context. Local actors need confidence that when investing public funds to meet those local needs they will not find that they are not in compliance with state aid rules.
Read the latest developments and our statement on the issue
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European Pillar of Social Rights: EU ministers agree to revise indicators
After the European Commission presented its proposal for a European Pillar of Social Rights- a set of common principles and rights meant to urge Eurozone countries to converge upward on social policies- in which access to social housing has an important role, EU ministers in charge of social affairs have agreed on June 16th to review the set of indicators proposed to monitor the progress made by Member States under each area identified under the Pillar of Social Rights. Affordable housing should be integrated claims Housing Europe.
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The Social Housing Sector welcomes the EU Housing Partnership to Amsterdam
Housing Europe’s work to achieve better regulation, better funding and better knowledge on housing at EU level as partner of the EU Housing Partnership continues. On June 13-14, The EU Housing Partnership met in Amsterdam during the International Social Housing Festival. This meeting was special in that it was hosted by two major Amsterdam-based housing associations, Eigen Haard and Rochdale, bringing policymakers at the heart of the work of housing providers in a city with world-leading tradition in social housing.
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The Civil Society presents its alternative vision for Europe | A 6th Scenario for a sustainable future for Europe
More than 250 non-government organisations from across the continent, including Housing Europe, released on 20 June an alternative vision for a more democratic, just and sustainable Europe. Intended to influence the debate on the future direction of Europe, this alternative vision is endorsed by organisations representing a multitude of public interest issues, including labour rights, culture, development, environment, health, women's rights, youth, and anti-discrimination groups.
Read the full text here
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Housing First in Social Housing | Broad cooperation can make it work
“Addressing homelessness is central to our mission” stressed Cédric Van Styvendael at his first time speaking on behalf of Europe’s public, social and cooperative housing providers addressing homeless service providers and housing activists and “to do this we need each other, which is why I’m very happy to be here at this session on Housing First, the first one I attend after being elected Housing Europe President.”
Cédric’s first speaking engagement as President of Housing Europe was at an International Social Housing Festival session organised by the Housing First Hub.
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Housing a better future
It only takes a short drive or metro ride from the city centre to visit a housing project that can offer you an injection of optimism. There are 565 reasons for that in a rare mosaic that goes beyond the theories about social mix. Startblok Riekerhaven is a true source of inspiration for housing associations that are confronted with the integration challenge.
Driven by the mission ‘Building a future together’ Startblok shows how youngsters of totally different backgrounds can support each other establishing a community that goes beyond just housing provision, laying the foundations for a better future. Housing Europe paid a visit to Riekerhaven as part of its participation at the International Social Housing Festival.
Read more on our blog
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Spain: how to make the new State Housing Plan work
May has been rather productive in terms of Spanish housing policy. The Ministry of Development presented to the Sectorial Conference on Housing, Urbanism and Land the draft of the Royal Decree 2018-2021 its Plan for Housing that regulates and promotes home rental and renovation.
The General Director of Architecture, Housing and Land sent the text to the real estate sector, including Housing Europe Spanish member, the Confederation of Housing Cooperatives of Spain (CONCOVI) asking for their suggestions.
Read on our blog how CONCOVI amends the Plan
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URBACT Blog post: Age-Appropriate neighbourhoods? Overcome competition and test new forms of cooperation!
In Europe, we are facing demographic change and the pleasing prospect of rising life expectancy. But as a consequence, the share of elderly people with a need of care will increase in the next two decades. According to Eurostat data, the share of people aged 65 and over is set to increase to approximately 29% by 2050 (it is currently 19%). At the same time however, the number of friends and relatives who constitute the informal care sector is decreasing, due to a shrinking birth rate. Finding answers on how to assure demographic resilience and affordable living conditions for elderly people consequently becomes one of the core challenges for European cities in the close future.
Read the complete blog post by Jonas Scholze on URBACT
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Towards a definition for smart buildings & detailed policy recommendations
The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) explores in its latest paper the concept of smart buildings. Measuring how smart a building is depends on the capacity of its functions and the degree to which different components interact and complement each other. BPIE comes forward with a concrete definition of a smart building, placing energy efficiency at its heart.
Read more
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PROF/TRAC: Getting our homes future ready
BUILD UP partner Housing Europe and the PROF/TRAC project, presented concrete examples of energy efficiency in social housing at the workshop ‘Getting our homes ready: Essentials skills and innovative solutions for a fair energy transition’, which took place on 8 March 2017 at the House of Dutch Provinces, in Brussels, Belgium.
The video of the day will be available soon in form of an online course. Until then we suggest that you read this overview article published on BUILD UP, the European portal for energy efficiency in buildings.
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Save the date for the next Housing Europe Working Committees
5-6 October, Brussels
Housing Europe Working Committees will meet again after the summer break on 5 and 6 October on the premises of the Social Platform. We invite you to save the date and stay tuned with our next newsletter to get the draft agenda and the schedule for both days.
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Public Services Summit 2017
28 June, Brussels
Still time to register for the Public Services Summit 2017 taking place on 28 June in Brussels. Our President, Cédric Van Styvendael joins the President of the Council of the European Union, Donald Tusk and other high-level speakers including European Commissioners, Thyssen and Dombrovskis in a debate on the place of public services in the Future of Europe.
Read more
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Summer School for Young Professionals 'A European Perspective on Housing'
For the first time ever, young professionals of the housing sector all over Europe have the opportunity to be part of an intensive international exchange on their field of work and interest. The Summer School is brought to you by EBZ – European Education Centre for the Housing and Real Estate Sector in cooperation with EFL European Federation for Living and Housing Europe.
21-25 August in Bochum, Germany
Find out more and register by 30 June
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Save the date for the 9th Baltic Housing Conference
14 September, Rakvere, Estonia
The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations will host an international 9th Baltic Housing Conference „Sustainable Living Environment: Best Practices in Housing“ in Rakvere on September 14, 2017. By bringing together representatives of housing organisations from EU and EU development partnership countries, the conference will focus on efforts made by housing organisations towards achieving the EU 2030 energy efficiency target. The insights and analysis presented in this conference will provide input to the Conference Declaration on energy efficiency in housing.
More information
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Europe's housing researchers meet in Albania this autumn
4-6 September, Tirana, Albania
The European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) announced that its annual conference will take place 4-6 September in the Albanian capital, Tirana. More than 300 researchers will get together aiming to "redefine the public and the private sectors" under the overall theme 'Affordable Housing for All'.
Find out more
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