Social housing providers in Belgium at the first line of defence during floods
The aftermath of SWL after the deadly flooding and how social mobilisation in times of crisis can play a major role
The heavy rainfalls that hit Belgium mid-July shocked everyone. People who had a stable housing situation suddenly found themselves with nowhere to go. In a heroic and well-coordinated effort, local authorities along with social housing companies took urgent action to help households from more than 200 affected communes in Walonia. Keep reading this piece written by Daniel Pollain, the spokesperson for the Walloon Housing Company (SWL) to find out how they have been weathering the storm.
The private rental sector and housing (un)affordability in European cities
It is time for better data and improved monitoring
The study of affordability can be a tricky issue, but one thing that is generally accepted is that it is more of a problem in urban areas. In this latest article, our Research Coordinator, Dara Turnbull, suggests that based on the private rental market, very few major cities in Europe can claim to be ‘affordable’, and makes a plea for better data, and improvements in the monitoring of housing as part of the European Semester.
Collaboration and partnership are at the core of successful housing systems
Housing Europe at the Barcelona Housing and Renovation Forum (FHAR)
The Barcelona Housing and Renovation Forum (FHAR) is an initiative of the Municipal Institute of Housing and Renovation (IMHAB) of the Barcelona City Council, that aims to bring together professionals from the public and private sector to debate, work on, and highlight the future of the right to housing in the city, just as it is overcoming a pandemic that poses new challenges.
