The Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, first inaugurated in 2007, is coming back for its sixth edition, scheduled to take place from September 30, 2017 until January 14, 2018 in Greece's second largest city with a focus on the notion of the "home".

Every month we introduce you to one of the people leading the work of our member organisations. In this edition, we thought of introducing you to the President of our new member from Finland, KOVA that joined the family of Housing Europe at our General Assembly in Amsterdam last June. Jaana Närö presents the organisation, gives us information about the perception of housing in Finland and shares some thoughts about the current challenges at national level. Plus, as usual, she reveals her secret recipe for a good life-work balance.

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.