Challenges and responses from the social housing sector in the EU Marc Calon HOW TO MOBILIZE EUROPE ? Europe : an asset for the french companies of the social housing providers 17th of november, BRUXELLES, Royal Library

About Housing Europe in brief Network of national and regional housing provider federations 4,500 public, voluntary housing organisations 28,000 cooperative housing organisations 43 members in 23 countries (20 EU Member States) Manage 26 million dwellings, about 11% of existing dwellings in the EU Vision Access to decent and affordable housing for all in communities which are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and where all are enabled to reach their full potential. CECODHAS Housing Europe is the ‘Federation of cooperative, public, social housing’. We are a network of national and regional housing-provider federations bringing together 4,500 public, voluntary housing organisations and 28,000 cooperatives housing organisations. Together our 42 members in 18 EU members States manage 25 million dwellings. That is approximately 12 % of the total housing stock. CECODHAS Housing Europe members work together for a Europe which provides access to decent and affordable housing for all in our communities and which is: socially, economically and environmentally sustainable… … and where all are enabled to reach their full potential.

Three major challenges: Promote cities which are accessible and affordable for all More sustainable, efficient and decentralised energy; And regions and neighbourhoods where people feel secure and where they can reach their full potential.

1. Promote cities and towns which are accessible and affordable for all New social housing production decreased in most EU countries between 2009 and 2012 The number of households on waiting lists for social housing has increased High level of debt linked to housing is a worrying phenomenon - in particular level of mortgages Young people have more difficulties to start their housing path compared to the former generation. State of Housing 2015: http://www.housingeurope.eu/resource-468/the-state-of-housing-in-the-eu-2015

2. More sustainable, efficient and decentralised energy 50 to 125 million people in Europe are unable to afford thermal comfort Energy Commissioner: “smart renovation could cut up to 40% of EU’s energy consumption” Empowering of the local communities Local partnerships with energy companies, construction sector, housing providers, tenants proposing adequate strategies (cf. Energie sprong) Empower tenants to use their homes the best way possible 2. Adequate finance for energy efficiency strengthen conventional and alternative funding for renovation of social housing 3. Energy Market Integration housing becoming part of the energy grid and Housing associations becoming energy providers 4. Enabling existing EU legislation make the EPBD and EED instruments to support local partnerships using cost effective measures More about fuel poverty and policy responses across the EU, read BPIE (2014) Alleviating fuel poverty in the EU http://bpie.eu/uploads/lib/document/attachment/ 60/BPIE_Fuel_Poverty_May2014.pdf Cañete calls on cities and regions to focus on energy efficiency in buildings http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/canete-calls-cities-and-regions-focus-energy-efficiency-buildings

3. Neighbourhoods where people feel secure and where they can reach their full potential Rich and poor are living at increasing distance from each other. This can be disastrous for the social stability and competitive power of cities (see recent Study about Segregation in thirteen European Capital Cities) This spatial segregation can become a breeding ground for misunderstanding and social unrest Recent riots in Paris, London and Stockholm cannot be considered separately from the concentrations of poverty in these cities. This problem is growing. Extra pressure to act: Housing need of refugees revails already existing shortages and segregation in Europe. ‘Inequality is causing people in different income classes to live farther and farther away from each other.’ (Recent study about Segregation in thirteen European Capital Cities) Study ‘Socio-Economic Segregation in European Capital Cities’ about situation from 2001 to 2011 in thirteen cities. Increasing segregation in European cities due to income inequality, A comparative study from Routledge publishing house, 2015. Edited by Tiit Tammaru, Szymon Marcińczak, Maarten van Ham & Sako Musterd, and based on research receiving EU funding, this study compares the situation in 2001 to that in 2011 for thirteen European cities. Conclusions are based on the comparative study entitled ‘Socio-Economic Segregation in European Capital Cities’. The study concludes that social mixing is declining in many areas. With some delay, socio-economic inequality is causing people in different income classes to live farther and farther away from each other. http://www.housingeurope.eu/resource-535/increasing-segregation-in-european-cities-due-to-income-inequality Tents in football fields: That is not Europe http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/tents-football-fields-not-europe-318268

Better communities through social interventions E.g. social cost–benefit analysis (Amsterdam example): District managers, prevention nuisance/vandalism, participation of inhabitants, etc. Cost for social housing provider: 36 mln euro in seven years Social benefits: 40 mln euro Save on police/justice costs; improve value dwellings; more satisfied people

European Responsible Housing Initiative Winner  Social sustainability Award: 25 local partnerships with local organisations, volunteers, social entrepeneurs with mutual obligation E.g. MOI foundation, started by two sisters in Bollywood videoshop , now help hundreds of family: care, integration, debts. http://www.responsiblehousing.eu/ http://www.responsiblehousing.eu/en/upload/Awards/EHRIN%20Oct6-EigenHaard.pdf

Bring people’s daily concerns to policy makers If people do not have a degree of certainty about their future, of having a roof over their head, of safety in their neighborhood, there is no confidence and no sustainable growth. Current trends of reduced employment stability, evictions and ghettoization in our cities are detrimental for our societal development. We must make the link between people’s every day concerns and policy makers at national and EU levels.