Housing For All – An Exploratory Review of Social Housing Models in Vienna
Introduction:
This exploratory research project aims to study the social-economic impacts of social housing for all models in Vienna to assess their applicability to Vancouver. In particular, how these models are contributing to a more diverse society, inclusive of equity-seeking groups such as those with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ and racialized communities. Our research attempts to address three questions:
1. How do Vienna’s social housing projects impact and benefit equity-seeking groups?
2. What do housing experts in Vienna see as lessons learned and opportunities for growth?
3. How are the learnings from Vienna applicable to future housing projects in Vancouver?
Limitations:
Our exploratory research confronted various limitations in its scope. In discussing issues pertaining to the social economic impacts that social housing may have on individuals, the project would have benefited from speaking with residents directly.
However, without relationships with organizations or representative groups in Vienna, it became unrealistic for this project to engage with residents. Other research limitations included:
1. Lack of translation ability between English and German for community outreach
2. Lack of primary resources (statistics) on social-economic impacts of Vienna’s social housing
3. Time constraints to be able to reach a large sample size among research participants
4. Time constraints due to this research project being completed in partnership with one of the researcher’s Master’s Capstone requirements
Methodology:
This research is concerned with understanding how Vienna addresses social and economic outcomes for future residents living in social housing. We aim to understand how these processes benefit various equity-seeking groups to determine their viability in a Vancouver-based context. The research was carried out in a three-stage process: Data Collection, Impact Analysis, and Local Application.
Stage 1: Data Collection:
A literature scan was conducted to contextualize the current landscape of social housing in Vienna, and to identify three existing Vienna social housing projects that are likely to contain valuable insights related to how housing contributes to the social-economic wellbeing of citizens.
Stage 2: Impact Analysis:
To acquire a primary-source account of Vienna’s social housing and how it relates to socio-economic impacts, our research team approached key stakeholders in Vienna’s social housing sector to conduct interviews. The interview participants included city planners, architects, policy makers, and social service providers. Connections were established through existing relationships between BC Housing and the City of Vienna, as well as through direct outreach by the research team.
Stage 3: Local Application:
The research team gathered the data and insights collected from the Vienna case studies and expert interviews, and considered how they may be applicable to Vancouver’s context. The research findings were organized into overarching themes, and defined into tangible calls to action for future research or implementation.
Calls to Action:
Community-Level Engagement:
Community-level engagement with equity-seeking and marginalized groups can provide more in-depth perspectives on their housing for all needs, as well as close trust and knowledge gaps between community and authorities.
Recruit Neighborhood Houses:
While fewer in number compared to Vienna’s Urban Renewal Offices, Metro Vancouver’s neighborhood houses provide a possible starting point for community-level engagement on broad housing needs across the region.
Pilot Urban Renewal Office:
City of Vancouver, BC Housing and other community partners can emulate an urban renewal office as a pilot project to assess its value and applicability to Vancouver’s affordable housing context.
Conclusion:
An emerging approach to housing equity is to empower marginalized communities to initiate, develop and operate their own housing developments. Both Vienna and Vancouver have recent pilots and successes to share on this topic, which would be interesting to compare. It can be expected that both cities are facilitating this type of community-led housing differently with incentives and policies, which could inspire the exchange of innovations and best practices.
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