Case study type: Observatorios y laboratorios

Buy Back Berlin

0

Buy Back Berlin

Policies and regulations Global frameworks Governance Data and monitoring Public-private initiatives Participatory processes
Ownership and tenure Rental and temporary tenure Protection of social housing

Main objectives of the project

CMMM, a research initiative focused on practical applications, was established to empower civil society actors in their efforts towards creating fairer societies and cities through significant political change. Municipalist mobilizers, dedicated to reshaping power dynamics, continually innovate tools and methods. Critical mapping was given precedence within the project as it represents an "act of power," moving beyond mere theoretical discourse to offer diverse perspectives on realities, catalyzing shifts in narratives and discourse. Among their interactive maps spotlighting housing in European cities, the "Buy Back Berlin!" map stands out. Utilizing acquired datasets and incorporating crowdsourcing options, it serves as an informative platform for civic initiatives striving to resist capitalist dispossession by advocating for the application of the right of preemption in Berlin.

Date

  • 2023: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • CMMM

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Berlin
Country/Region: Berlin, Germany

Description

Berlin, where approximately 85% of households are tenants, relies heavily on the availability and affordability of housing units for its residents' livelihoods. The city's socio-economic and spatial landscape, shaped by its division until 1989, fostered opportunities for self-realization due to ample spaces and affordable rents, alongside strong socio-cultural communities and initiatives. However, following reunification in 1990, neoliberal investments surged, facilitated by political agreements that favored neoliberalism and the sale of former East German assets. Consequently, state-owned housing decreased to about a third of its previous holdings despite population growth.

Over the past two decades, extensive mobilization by civic initiatives advocating for affordable housing rights has led to efforts by the city to reclaim lost housing stock. Nonetheless, large real estate firms and financialization persistently inflate purchase prices and rents, driving tenant displacement through gentrification. The "Buy Back Berlin" map aims to provide information on "Gemeinwohl" (common good) organizations in Berlin dedicated to acquiring, maintaining, or protecting affordable housing for tenants. It serves as a testament to ongoing efforts in the city's housing scene and a call to policymakers for transformative housing policies.

The map features sections for "Need Information," where individuals can ask to seek information about their landlords or supporting organizations; "Take Action," allowing tenants to assert their rights, showing their willingness to act and inform others; and "Offer Support," where organizations can register to assist those in need and contact those how want to act to maintain their houses. Hence, the map function as a link between stakeholders in the city to form coalitions between people in need, people willing to act and organizations who can support both of them. Additionally, the map displays the outcomes of the municipal right of preemption, an instrumental tool until a court ruling in November 2021, which allowed municipalities to intervene against hyper-commercialization in collaboration with tenants and socially responsible real estate companies. The right consists on being the first to be able to buy (at the same price) when there is a transaction of a landlord with a third party. This helped a lot to restore the public and affordable stock of housing in the city. Now, with a poster, CMMM is fighting to restore this right, showing what has achieved in the past with the map.

The Berlin map puts together a network of stakeholders to push for affordable housing. Moreover, helps to show the usefulness of old tools and fight for the need of restoring them. Thus, it shows how critical maps can foster new and old solutions to the housing crisis.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Alerta desnonaments: Anti-eviction map, Barcelona

0

Alerta desnonaments: Anti-eviction map, Barcelona

Policies and regulations Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact Evictions Participatory processes

Main objectives of the project

CMMM, a research initiative focused on practical applications, was established to empower civil society actors in their efforts towards creating fairer societies and cities through significant political change. Municipalist mobilizers, dedicated to reshaping power dynamics, continually innovate tools and methods. Critical mapping was given precedence within the project as it represents an "act of power," moving beyond mere theoretical discourse to offer diverse perspectives on realities, catalyzing shifts in narratives and discourse. Among their interactive maps spotlighting housing in European cities, the “Stop Evictions” map stands out. Using the historical data about evictions in the city of Barcelona, it helps putting toghther people to avoid them in the future.

Date

  • 2023: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Observatori DESC
  • CMMM

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Barcelona
Country/Region: Barcelona, Spain

Description

Barcelona has long been a vibrant, politically charged city, where various movements and organizations converge and emerge. Following the downfall of the Franco dictatorship, urban struggles have become integral to the city's fabric, notably gaining momentum around the time of the 1992 Olympics and subsequent developments. The 1990s witnessed significant economic liberalization and deregulation, with a diminishing governmental role to accommodate capitalist investors. However, the financial crisis of 2008, stemming from the United States, catalyzed a housing crisis in Barcelona, reshaping social interventions and becoming a prominent concern for citizens.

The reforms mandated by the European Financial Stabilization Mechanism, later transitioning into the European Stability Mechanism, precipitated a shift in the housing emergency from mass foreclosures linked to mortgage defaults to a rental crisis between 2013 and 2015. Presently, approximately 40% of Barcelona's population are renters, far exceeding the Spanish average of 25%, exacerbating issues of affordability. Housing policies in Spain lag behind much of Europe, characterized by deteriorating buildings, particularly in the historic district due to intentional neglect. Moreover, soaring prices relative to income, scant social housing provision at only 1.6% of the total stock, and minimal tenant protections underscore the severity of the situation. The city's status as a premier European tourist destination further compounds the housing crisis, driving up demand for lodging and threatening locals' access to housing and a non-commercialized neighborhood life.

The CMMM Barcelona team is affiliated with Observatori DESC, a hybrid human rights organization fostering collaboration between urban social movements, the city administration, and academia, focuses on advocating for progressive laws and policies. Within their scope of work on the right to the city, Observatori DESC prioritizes ensuring the social use of housing as a prerequisite for dignified living. Their advocacy encompasses initiatives to increase public and affordable housing, implement innovative, rights-based social policies to combat evictions, and address abuses by large landlords, such as expulsions and harassment. At the legislative and judicial levels, efforts are concentrated on curbing exorbitant housing costs through measures like rent controls and outlawing entities like Desokupa, which employ intimidation tactics during evictions.

In the context of the CMMM project, Observatori DESC collaborated with housing organizations and movements to explore the application of critical mapping in documenting, mobilizing, and advocating for changes in housing discourses. Specifically, they investigated methods to delineate and document eviction occurrences and organize resistance against them. The "Stop Eviction" maps provide crucial insights. Firstly, they detail interventions by civil society anti-eviction organizations during evictions between 2016 and 2022, identifying involved property owners and outcomes. This sheds light on the principal actors in eviction processes and organizational resistance efforts. Secondly, impending evictions are mapped out, empowering individuals to preemptively act against them.

Both maps serve as invaluable tools in addressing Barcelona's housing crisis, offering insights into landlord behaviors and guiding efforts to support tenants. They facilitate a better understanding of eviction dynamics and avenues for community engagement.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Terner labs

0

Terner labs

Mismatches
Policies and regulations Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact
Urban Design

Main objectives of the project

Terner Labs, affiliated with UC Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation, utilize data, transparent methodologies, and innovative approaches. Their aim is to support policymakers in devising more effective solutions to California's housing crisis.

Date

  • 2019: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Terner Center

Location

Continent: North America
Country/Region: San Jose, United States of America

Description

In response to California's significant housing crisis, UC Berkeley established the Terner Labs as part of the Terner Center, aiming to tackle the issue head-on. The mission of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation is to develop innovative strategies to provide affordable housing for families from diverse backgrounds in sustainable and vibrant communities. Founded in 2015, the Terner Center has swiftly emerged as a leading advocate for identifying and advancing solutions to the nation's most challenging housing issues.

The Terner Labs, the main innovative arm of the center, comprises three distinct labs. The oldest among them is the Housing Venture Lab, established in 2019. This lab serves as an accelerator, offering comprehensive support to entrepreneurs with fresh and bold ideas aimed at enhancing the accessibility, equity, and sustainability of housing. Through the lab, entrepreneurs gain access to a network of leading figures in construction, policymaking, nonprofits, and entrepreneurship on a national scale. Moreover, they receive guidance from experienced professionals and strategic partners to chart a course for substantial impact. Then, they can test the ideas and analyze how they work.

The Data Solutions Lab focuses on developing data-driven tools for housing and land use modeling, enabling policymakers, researchers, and advocates to make well-informed decisions regarding community housing. A notable tool developed by this lab is the housing supply simulator. This simulator assesses the potential impact of policy changes, such as adjusting height limits or unit numbers, on the types of housing developed at different scales. Furthermore, it evaluates the financial viability and likelihood of development across various building types, zoning categories, and neighborhoods. Additionally, it predicts how policy alterations could affect housing production in proximity to transit, in areas susceptible to displacement, or in regions prone to wildfires, among other considerations.

Lastly, the Builders Lab, set to launch in 2024, will collaborate with emerging leaders in architecture, engineering, and construction to implement and scale innovative methods that streamline housing delivery nationwide. The lab aims to cultivate a cohort of ventures that pioneer advancements in construction techniques to facilitate the provision of affordable housing.

Collectively, these three labs exemplify how leveraging data, engaging stakeholders, and harnessing technology can pave the way for more effective housing policies.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

0

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

Mismatches Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact

Main objectives of the project

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is a dynamic research and policy partnership committed to ending homelessness in Canada and beyond. With its flagship projects like the Homeless Hub and the Systems Planning Collective, it offers comprehensive resources and guidance to empower stakeholders at all levels. By emphasizing accessibility and practicality in its approach, the COH continues to lead the charge in leveraging research for tangible action and positive change.

Date

  • 2008: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • York University
  • Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

Location

Continent: North America
Country/Region: Canada, Toronto

Description

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, under the leadership of President & CEO Stephen Gaetz, is a non-partisan research and policy partnership involving academics, decision-makers, service providers, and individuals with lived experiences of homelessness. Initially established as the Canadian Homelessness Research Network in 2008 through funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, it has since evolved into a global leader in homelessness solutions and knowledge mobilization practices.

Going beyond the traditional role of a research institute, the COH collaborates with partners to conduct research aimed at influencing solutions to homelessness. With a focus on bridging the gap between research, policy, and practice, it supports service providers, policymakers, and governments in enhancing their capacity to address homelessness effectively.

One of its flagship projects is the Homeless Hub, renowned as the largest library of homelessness research globally. Originally launched in 2007 with 500 resources, it underwent a redesign in 2018 to provide access to over 30,000 resources, including plain-language reports, tools, and frameworks. Notably, the Homeless Hub serves as a vital tool for policymakers, offering a wealth of information on homelessness policies, case studies, and best practices. Additionally, it functions as a data portal, offering comprehensive community profiles detailing homelessness data for each Canadian province and outlining effective policies for ending homelessness.

What distinguishes the COH from other online libraries or databases is its approach to research material. Emphasizing accessibility and practicality, it presents evidence-based research in clear language, along with actionable recommendations. This commitment to making homelessness research readily available to all underscores the belief that solutions should be grounded in research.

In addition to the Homeless Hub, the COH oversees other noteworthy initiatives, such as the Systems Planning Collective. Developed in partnership with A Way Home Canada and HelpSeeker, this collective is dedicated to assisting communities and governments in preventing and ending homelessness through evidence-based systems planning. Through comprehensive modules covering both basic and advanced systems planning, the collective provides tools and resources to support communities across Canada in improving local outcomes related to homelessness.

In conclusion, the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness stands as a beacon of collaboration and innovation in the field of homelessness research and policy. Through initiatives like the Homeless Hub and the Systems Planning Collective, it empowers communities, policymakers, and service providers with the knowledge and tools necessary to enact meaningful change. By continuing to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice, the COH remains steadfast in its commitment to ending homelessness and improving the lives of individuals and families across Canada.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Census of homeless people in Belgium

0

Census of homeless people in Belgium

Mismatches Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact

Main objectives of the project

Belgium, in alignment with the Lisbon Declaration of June 2021, is committed to tackling homelessness by 2030, emphasizing the importance of data-driven strategies. The King Baudouin Foundation, along with research teams and local authorities, has developed a standardized methodology for counting homeless individuals, spanning urban and rural areas. Initial findings surpassed expectations, totaling over 16,000 individuals. The data informs annual reports accessible to all, while qualitative interviews aim to deepen understanding and inform effective solutions.

Date

  • 2020: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • King Baudouin Foundation
  • LUCAS KULeuven

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Belgium, Leuven

Description

In June 2021, Belgium endorsed the Lisbon Declaration, pledging to address homelessness by 2030 through systemic measures. A key aspect highlighted in the Declaration is the necessity for these measures to be grounded in accurate data to effectively guide policymakers.

Since 2020, the King Baudouin Foundation has been actively involved in collaboration with research teams from UCLouvain and LUCAS KULeuven, along with over 100 local authorities, in devising a standardized methodology for counting individuals experiencing homelessness in Wallonia and Flanders. The Foundation aims to extend this methodology nationwide to ensure consistent and recurrent counts across Belgium. The Netherlands has also expressed interest in this approach, which was successfully piloted there earlier this year.

The initial census took place in Leuven and subsequently expanded to Limburg, Ghent, Arlon, and Liège. This methodology goes beyond merely tallying individuals sleeping on the streets; it encompasses the entire spectrum of homelessness classifications outlined in ETHOS Light. This broader approach considers individuals residing in institutions, unconventional dwellings, or temporary accommodations with family, friends, or acquaintances. Thus, the census delves deeper than surface-level assessments.

In 2022, efforts were made to extend the census beyond urban centers to encompass rural areas as well. In Flanders, six zones were involved: Boom-Mechelen-Lier, Bruges Arrondissement, Midwest, Middenkust, Kempen Zorgregio, and Waasland. Counts were also conducted in the German-speaking Community, Tournai, and Walloon Brabant. The combined tally from these areas exceeded 16,000 unhoused and homeless individuals, surpassing initial expectations. However, this data now provides a basis for informed action.

The findings are published annually in a comprehensive report accessible to any interested administration or individual citizen. Moreover, the census team is now conducting interviews to gain insights into the pathways to homelessness. This qualitative approach aims to inform the development of innovative solutions.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

State of Homelessness (US)

0

State of Homelessness (US)

Mismatches Vulnerable groups
Policies and regulations National policies Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact Evictions

Main objectives of the project

The National Alliance to End Homelessness produces the influential "State of Homelessness" report, using HUD data to assess and analyze homelessness nationwide, while also evaluating emergency services and risk factors that might lead to homelessness.

Date

  • 2023: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • National Alliance to End Homelessness

Location

Continent: North America
Country/Region: United States of America

Description

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to eradicating homelessness in the United States. Utilizing research and data, they seek solutions to homelessness, collaborating with federal and local partners to establish robust policies and resources supporting these solutions. Subsequently, they assist communities in implementing these strategies. Annually, they produce the "State of Homelessness" report.

This report relies on data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer an overview of homelessness in the U.S. on a given night in 2022 and highlight emerging trends. Drawing from HUD's Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Housing Inventory Count data, the NAEH organizes and analyzes the information.

Through this process, the NAEH obtains a count of homelessness in each U.S. state while also evaluating the state of emergency services and assistance available to homeless individuals. This comparison between the number of people experiencing homelessness and the aid accessible to them is crucial. Additionally, they consider risk factors contributing to homelessness, such as rent burden, which helps forecast potential increases in the homeless population.

In summary, the NAEH's "State of Homelessness" report stands as the premier nationwide assessment of this pressing issue, providing invaluable insights into the state of homelessness across the country.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Dublin Housing Observatory

0

Dublin Housing Observatory

Policies and regulations Local policies Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact

Main objectives of the project

The Dublin Housing Observatory (DHO) is a pioneering research unit within Dublin City Council, guided by an independent advisory board. It leads the council's efforts in housing, planning, economic development, inclusion, and integration, with a dedicated team reporting to senior management. Committed to providing evidence-based insights, the DHO strives to create an affordable and sustainable living environment in Dublin by fortifying housing policies with robust empirical foundations and managing crucial data on pricing, rentals, vacancies, zoning laws, etc.

Date

  • 2019: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Dublin City Council
  • AIRO

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Dublin
Country/Region: Dublin, Ireland

Description

The Dublin Housing Observatory (DHO), a novel research unit within Dublin City Council, is steered by an independent advisory board and spearheads the council's multifaceted approach to housing, planning, economic development, inclusion, and integration. It comprises a dedicated team of three professionals under senior management's guidance, reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive in Housing and Community Services.

At its core, the DHO is committed to furnishing evidence that informs housing policy and enhances operational efficacy. Embracing its mission to foster an affordable and sustainable living environment in Dublin, the Observatory strives to fortify housing and urban development strategies with rigorous empirical foundations. It acts as a custodian of crucial data encompassing pricing trends, rental landscapes, vacant properties, and zoning dynamics.

With a clear vision in mind, the Dublin Housing Observatory delineates four primary objectives. Firstly, it aims to bolster Dublin City Council's efforts in delivering top-tier social and affordable housing solutions while nurturing sustainable communities. Secondly, it positions itself as a vibrant knowledge-exchange hub, fostering dialogue and collaboration in policy design, analysis, and implementation within the realms of housing and urban development. Furthermore, the DHO serves as a pivotal research nexus, generating insights crucial for evidence-based decision-making across housing and its allied domains, including planning, economic development, inclusion, and integration. Lastly, it assumes the mantle of a data navigator, offering stakeholders, the public, and elected representatives an objective compass through the intricate dynamics of Dublin's housing system and market.

Since its inception, the Dublin Housing Observatory has made significant strides. From the launch of a comprehensive Mapping Viewer, in partnership with AIRO and OSi, to the publication of an insightful report on the city's Rapid Build Programme, the Observatory has enriched public discourse and policymaking with invaluable data and analysis. Moreover, its contributions extend to informing strategic initiatives, supporting departmental reviews, and fostering collaborative events attended by national and international stakeholders, reinforcing its pivotal role in shaping Dublin's housing landscape.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Settlements Observatory, Montevideo

0

Settlements Observatory, Montevideo

Policies and regulations Local policies Governance Data and monitoring Participatory processes
Promotion and production Favelas/Slums

Main objectives of the project

In 2017, Montevideo created the Settlements Observatory. The objective was to have an instrument of information and public data on the biggest challenge the city faces: achieving livable environments for its most vulnerable communities, but maintaining its idiosyncrasy.

Date

  • 2017: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Montevideo municipality - divisiontierrasyhabitat@imm.gub.uy

Location

Continent: South America
Country/Region: Montevideo, Uruguay

Description

Montevideo today has more than three hundred informal settlements. They are inhabited by more than 120,000 people, most of them from vulnerable communities. This is the result of years of urban growth in a context of economic crisis and years of migration and uncontrolled urban sprawl. Thus, the city lived and lives a deep urgency. There is an urgent need to integrate these neighborhoods. But to do so, the magnitude of the problem must be known.

In the previous decade, it was unknown how many people lived in settlements (beyond census data), there was no knowledge of the status of the interventions, nor was it recorded in a unified way. For this reason, in 2017 the Settlements Observatory was created. This instrument aims to systematize the main indicators of the city's settlements. Thus, it aims to put data to the reality of the settlements, seeing their realities and differences. Moreover, it does it in a systematic and longitudinal way, being able to monitor its evolution. In this way, it becomes the evaluation and follow-up instrument for Montevideo's neighborhood improvement programs. The information related to irregular settlements includes data on interventions carried out by different agencies and institutions. This allows their categorization, as well as establishing whether or not the conditions of the definition of irregular settlement are maintained or not, in order to maintain or remove them from the database, respectively.

Each settlement collects a series of simple and mapped data in the metropolitan environment of Montevideo. Mainly, each settlement has a name, the area, the number of inhabitants, the status (intervened or not), the plan that intervenes in it and the number of dwellings. It is also possible to find out if they are in the process of regularization or not and since when or if their inhabitants have been relocated. All this makes it possible to follow up on people living in low climatic comfort, in sub-standard housing and to systematize the programs that have an impact on their environment.

One of the most important issues of the observatory was to be an instrument of transparency. Thus, in addition to influencing and improving programs, it also transfers information to interested agents, affected communities and other administrations on the work being carried out and the state of the situation. This transparency exercise is essential to encourage participation in the programs and build trust. The open data system also allows the intervention of universities, researchers and those interested in the subject, helping to delve deeper into the realities of the settlements.

In addition, the communities are also a vehicle for information. The observatory's ultimate goal is to ensure that these communities can also become empowered by the realities of their environments.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Housing Solutions Lab, US

0

Housing Solutions Lab, US

Mismatches
Policies and regulations Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact

Main objectives of the project

The Housing Solutions Lab, part of the NYU Furman Center, assists small and midsize cities in developing, implementing, and assessing evidence-based housing policies that promote racial equity, enhance access to opportunities, and enhance the long-term health and well-being of residents.

Date

  • 2024: En proceso

Stakeholders

  • NYU Furman Center
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Location

Continent: North America
Country/Region: United States of America

Description

While larger and coastal cities tend to dominate national housing discussions, small and midsize cities—defined as those with populations between 50,000 and 500,000—encounter their own set of intricate housing challenges. These challenges range from disinvestment and concentrated poverty to housing instability and affordability gaps. However, small and midsize cities also present fertile ground for innovation. They often exhibit greater agility and less bureaucratic red tape compared to larger cities, enabling them to more effectively involve higher levels of leadership, gain recognition for promising strategies, and foster trust and engagement within their communities. Nonetheless, they may lack the philanthropic and corporate support enjoyed by larger cities, as well as the necessary staffing, resources, and access to data, best practices, or specialized expertise required to develop and implement effective housing responses. Additionally, the affordability crisis in rental housing disproportionately impacts people of color, who are more likely to be renters, exacerbating existing disparities in homeownership rates between white, Black, and Latino households, which are already pronounced in larger cities and even more pronounced in small and midsize cities.

Recognizing these challenges, the NYU Furman Center established the Housing Solutions Lab—an interdisciplinary team of housing research and policy experts housed within the NYU Furman Center, a collaborative initiative between the NYU School of Law and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Through its Local Housing Solutions website and Lab Notes blog, the Lab provides a plethora of housing policy resources, data tools, cases of study and analyses. Furthermore, it facilitates peer learning opportunities for city leaders, furnishes access to local housing and neighborhood data, conducts rigorous research and evaluations, and offers technical assistance to cities striving to achieve their housing policy objectives. Continually seeking opportunities for collaboration, the Lab endeavors to support local government leaders, researchers, and other housing stakeholders in pursuing equitable, evidence-based housing policy goals.

In addition to providing strategies, data, case studies, and other innovative solutions, the Lab spearheads two main initiatives. Firstly, it administers The Peer Cities Network—a year-long program that convenes leaders from small and midsize cities to explore housing policy research, innovative practices, and avenues for achieving local housing objectives. Secondly, it conducts the Housing Solutions Workshop—an intensive three-week training program offered annually to teams of housing leaders from small and midsize cities, equipping participants with the skills necessary to develop comprehensive local housing strategies.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España

Observatorio de la Vulnerabilidad Urbana, Spain

0

Observatorio de la Vulnerabilidad Urbana, Spain

Mismatches
Policies and regulations National policies Governance Data and monitoring Evaluation and impact

Main objectives of the project

The Spanish Ministry of Housing Development realized that, despite having systematized housing census data, it had not systematized the information to make informed affordable housing and neighborhood improvement policies. For this reason, it has created the Observatory of Urban Vulnerability. The objective of this observatory is to inform through an open data system the information available from the Spanish administrations on residential insecurity, unaffordable housing or urban deprivation.

Date

  • 2015: Implementation

Stakeholders

  • Ministerio de Fomento (Spain)

Location

City: Madrid
Country/Region: Spain

Description

Spanish cities are facing an unprecedented housing crisis. Added to this is an aging housing stock, most of which is owned but whose inhabitants do not have the capacity to rehabilitate the buildings. In this way, Spain sees how the social crisis is added to the housing crisis, giving rise to significant urban vulnerabilities and growing residential insecurities. For this reason, it wanted to promote various programs to help alleviate this situation. The problem was (and is) that there is no systematized, open and worked data on these matters. Hence the Observatory of Urban Vulnerability was born.

The Observatory manages 2 atlases or data visualizations. One is directly related to housing. It is the Atlas of Residential Building in Spain, with information on the characteristics of residential buildings and housing at the census section level of all Spanish municipalities (referring to the Population and Housing Censuses of 2001, 2011 and 2018). The indicators range from income to the state of housing in the last two decades. All of this is delimited in census sections, the smallest delimitation that Spain has, comparable to neighborhoods.

The other atlas is that of Urban Vulnerability. In this case, the Observatory relates the housing situation with the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of its inhabitants. In this way it can generate an index of urban deprivation for the whole state, detecting which locations will have the most difficulties in the future to live in adequate living conditions.

Apart from the visualization of the data, the observatory reports on them. All the data it generates is open to the public and easy to consult. In fact, the objective is to be used by other administrations and researchers as a reference in the field in the state. From there, to share diagnoses and common actions in urban regeneration. This fact is especially important in Spain, whose competencies in housing are the responsibility of the Autonomous Communities (regions and nations of the State) and not the central government. Thus, the observatory can be a support point for common information and coordination. It is being so for the development of the Urban Agendas.

Although it is not exclusively a housing observatory, it has an impact on the capacity of inhabitants to access housing and its characteristics. In this way, it is a vital instrument for their policies.

Links

Authors:

CSCAE Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España