Right to housing
Provide short introduction here
General introduction to approach
This cluster identifies policies, practices and rights which can, or have the potential to, ensure citizens with social security. In particular, the approaches in this cluster aim at increasing social security to most vulnerable urban citizens suffering from poverty. The main recurrent theme of the cluster is housing rights framed as a fundamental aspect of social security. Access to housing can be provided through formal procedures (e.g. existing law enforcement) as well as informal practices (e.g. squatting vacant spaces). Other fundamental aspects of social security are: access to food, essential health care, basic education and income. Generally, the cluster highlights that these aspects should be supported by governmental/public institutions, i.e. welfare system. However, there are numerous existing approaches where citizens, social movements and non-governmental organizations act to fill the gaps of an absent state and provide informal social security.
Shapes, sizes and applications
Anti-gentrification toolkit (AGAPE): This approach responds to the increasing episodes of evictions, speculation and privatization on the urban European housing market. The anti-gentrification toolkit for policy makers and activists collects anti-eviction, anti-speculative, anti-privatization practices performed mainly in Southern European cities. For instance, tenants union lobbying has proved to be a successful practice in mitigating evictions. Similarly, social centers and housing movements have resisted displacement by squatting and re-claiming the right to use vacant urban spaces.
Tenancy and housing law (TENLAW): In a number of cases around Europe national tenancy and housing law ensures citizens with housing rights. However, it often occurs that these laws are not enforced because of the inaccessible language or tenant’s lack of knowledge. The project TENLAW has developed an accessible brochure “My right as a tenant in EU” to inform citizens about their rights. Existing housing law is a legal and effective approach for citizens to see their right to housing respected. However, it might also be a limited one given that the legal system is not always a just one.
Household resilience (RESCuE): A large number of vulnerable households in Europe has proven to be successful in mitigating poverty through self-initiatives which replace the absence of government’s support. Networks such as family, friends, church and other religious associations, schools, urban gardening, foodbanks, cultural events (and the list is still long) can strengthen household resilience against poverty.
Urban Food Strategy (FOODLINKS): Along with housing, food remains one of the most important commodities to ensure social security. An Urban Food Strategy (UFS) connects different range of stakeholders (civil society, local producers, policy-makers etc.) to engage in the several stages of the food system and ensure fair access to food to consumers as well as fair compensation for local producers.
Basic Income (TRANSIT): A minimal income is essential to ensure citizens with the above mentioned aspects of social security, i.e. housing and food. A basic income would give citizens the opportunity to be active in social solidarity work which would improve society as a whole and would be a means to achieve freedom, empowerment, and emancipation. Basic income has been demanded by social movements and academia for over 30 years and it has proven to be successful in reducing poverty (see Brazilian case). However, its level of transferability remains low for two main reasons: First, basic income classifies as a welfare measure which would require a substantial initial investment. Second, it is often challenged as a measure to protect “job-less free-riders”.
Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice
This cluster mainly addresses living conditions of vulnerable citizens in cities, although most approaches can also be implemented in rural areas . The cluster has a strong focus on social justice as all approaches’ goal is to provide vulnerable citizens with decent living standards, reducing the gap with wealthier classes who are able to fulfil all their needs. The underlying message is that social justice, i.e. social security and rights, can be achieved through formal government interventions. When such interventions are lacking, governments risk to create socially unjust dynamics: lack of housing, evictions, privatization of the public urban space, scarce food supply, and limited or no access to public transportation, education and basic income. This cluster does not include approaches which seek to achieve environmental sustainability as the end goal. Yet, in several approaches sustainability proves to go hand in hand with the pursuit of social justice. In urban areas, for instance, speculation and privatization often occur with the development of new city districts which require extensive input of natural capital; whereas most housing movements advocate for the reuse (and when needed the renovation) of existing vacant spaces as a solution to allocate social vulnerable citizens as well as to “recycle” existing spaces. In this sense, anti-gentrification practices have the potential to not only be socially just but also more sustainable. Overall, approaches to achieve social security can be implemented sustainably or can directly promote sustainability. The end goal, however, remains achieving social justice.
Narrative of change
The main problem this cluster addresses is poverty, which means that a person cannot cover their basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Although Europe is the region in the world which suffers less from poverty, in 2015 there were still 7.1 million people poor people (reference). The number grows exponentially considering people who can only cover their very basic needs, but are still unemployed and do not have access to education and proper health care. Nelson Mandela stated “Overcoming poverty isn’t a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice”. The underlying premise of this cluster is that a socially just and sustainable city must provide its most vulnerable citizens with the minimal level of social security.