Long term, sustainable Housing solutions for the intercultural City:

The truth of Tomas Fabian’s statement is very clear: in many European cities there is a housing crisis that is not caused by migration, but within which migrants face particular difficulties. This poses a grave threat to migrant integration at all stages. For civic leaders, the longer-term issue of how to harness the benefits of migration for their cities also demands a focus on housing.

“Research has long recognized that housing is a central element in migrants’ path towards inclusion, as much as employment and access to services …Harnessing the opportunities migration brings to cities and curtailing possible negative effects requires well-planned, cross-sectoral and integrated urban development, in function as well of migration-driven population growth”.

The housing crisis the Mayor of Leipzig referred to back in 2016, shows no signs of ending. In fact, all the indications are that housing crises are on the increase in Europe’s largest cities; although the “refugee crisis” is now that of Ukrainians seeking shelter in neighboring European countries. Cities, especially the largest cities, are still the focus for these crises, and often the places where imaginative solutions are found by local people.

Housing, and especially the long-term process of creating and settling into a home is a central focus of residents and so a significant focus for city leaders. In building intercultural cities, housing is both an area of concern and an opportunity to put the core principles into effective action.

 Real equality demands action on discrimination and a commitment to equal access to housing services
 A positive attitude to diversity and pluralism is expressed in imaginative solutions to the housing problems faced by migrants and other citizens
 Housing projects can enable meaningful interaction between migrants and others who might not otherwise share the same spaces
 A commitment to active citizenship and participation starts with ensuring everyone in the city has a place in it, and a role to play in ensuring decent housing for all

This briefing, commissioned by the Intercultural Cities (ICC) program of the Council of Europe, began with concerns from Polish cities on the frontline of the housing crisis, where so many Ukrainians have arrived and where there is an urgent need to find sustainable and long-term housing solutions for these new residents. The policy brief focuses on exploring good practices and solutions from cities and communities, in order to create a resource for those facing large-scale arrivals or welcoming migrants, who seek sustainable and long-term housing solutions for residents.

Just as the effects of this crisis are felt at the city level, the solutions to them can only come from the cities themselves. Governments have an important role to play, but the core work of enabling and coordinating the provision can only be done well locally. Similarly, just as it is not only migrants who face this housing crisis, action to deal with it will benefit other residents and the city as a whole.

The solutions explored here are not specific to Poland or to Ukrainians (who are somewhat of a special case: see below), but have been developed in many countries for a variety of migrants, both forced and voluntary. Housing plays a key role in successful migrant integration and there is a pressing need to ensure fairness for these new arrivals. The data shows that many face significant disadvantages.

This briefing is therefore intended as a resource for cities and towns across Europe facing large-scale arrivals or welcoming any migrants, who are seeking sustainable and long-term housing solutions for their new residents so that all can reap the full benefits of migration.