[Index]
Putting social housing
high on the political agenda
Geneva, 16 May 2003 - On
19-20 May, the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) and
the European Liaison Committee for
Social Housing (CECODHAS) will hold
a two-day workshop on social housing
in the Czech capital, Prague, at the
invitation of the Czech Ministry for
Regional Development.
Over a hundred participants from
some 30 UNECE member States will gather
to hammer out a common definition
of social housing, because, surprisingly,
there's no common understanding of
social housing. Yet this is a prerequisite
for UNECE to draw up guidelines on
social housing.
Social housing is usually understood
as public rental housing. But this
is too narrow. There are now many
poor owners in countries in transition
where governments sold off the social
housing stock at below-market prices
to the sitting tenants. Should the
housing occupied by these poor owners
not be regarded as social housing?
The usual understanding of social
housing does not hold in countries
where there is a very low percentage
of social rental housing, but where
other solutions exist. Does this mean
that these countries have no social
housing to speak of?
Although approaches to social housing
diverge, social housing is rarely
defined in national laws. This is
why before starting any discussion
on social housing it is so important
to define it.
According to Ms Christina von Schweinichen,
Deputy Director of the UNECE Environment
and Human Settlements Division, "one
of the key issues participants have
to consider is the extent to which
countries respond to the housing need
of those who cannot afford adequate
housing. However, given the general
climate of fiscal restraint and limited
public resources, the market was expected
to bring the solution, but this hasn't
always worked. To address the social
housing problem, all actors involved
in the provision of housing should
work together. At the meeting in Prague
representatives from UNECE member
States, local governments, banks,
housing agencies, housing associations
and cooperatives, international organizations,
NGOs and research institutions will
gather around a table to discuss concrete
recommendations for a more effective
social housing provision so that everyone
can afford to have a roof over their
heads."
For more information, please contact:
Christina von Schweinichen, Deputy
Director
UNECE Environment and Human Settlements
Division
Palais des Nations, office 340
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland