“Governments must move away from blind reliance on the market and recognise that the backbone of the housing systems is public, cooperative, and social housing. This cannot be a sector we turn to only when we see inability to take care of people fleeing wars or people sleeping rough. It is a strong basis, not a last resort.” These were the two clear asks Housing Europe’s Secretary-General, Sorcha Edwards stressed today at the European Economic and Social Committee debate on how we can protect the most vulnerable citizens through resilient and affordable homes.
A new report from the Committee rightly identifies public, cooperative, and social housing as essential pillars of resilient housing systems, underlining the need for long-term investments and policy support.
Austria’s success proves this model works. With 75% of households eligible for rental homes from limited-profit housing associations, rents are 30% below market rates, thanks to the cost-rental model. Surpluses from repaid loans are reinvested into future housing projects, ensuring long-term affordability. However, experts like our member GBV (Austria), Bernd Rießland warned that the EU lacks housing expertise, with some policy recommendations coming from firms without local knowledge. To make real progress, we must work with local experts and build similar models in countries, especially in Eastern Europe.
The political will for change is growing. MEP Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D) committed to pushing for “a firm, strong budget as part of cohesion policy, focusing on housing for investments to be made in renovation and for homes in the EU to be produced publicly.”