We participated in more than 10 activities of the program of the International Social Housing Festival between debates, visits and exchanges

The United Nations formalized the delivery of the Silver World Habitat Award in Barcelona at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona

Sostre Cívic tipped over to theInternational Social Housing Festival (ISHF) held in Barcelona last June 7, 8 and 9. This is the most important social housing congress in Europe, organized by Housing Europe, which aims to promote innovative and sustainable solutions in the field of social housing. In this edition at our house, which gathered more than 2000 people from all over the world, Sostre Cívic participated in more than 10 activities during the 3 days of the festival, organizing and collaborating in relevant conferences and seminars. We took advantage of this international meeting to show our cooperative housing model. We claimed the Catalan cooperative way as an international reference for accessing the right to housing in a comprehensive and sustainable way, optimizing energy efficiency and facing social, economic and environmental challenges.

During the Festival, the delivery of the Silver Award 2023 World Habitat of the United Nations a Sostre Cívic. This award recognizes our work in providing an affordable, sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional models of owning and renting, challenging what it means to people to have a roof over their heads. 

During the International Festival of Social Housing, Sostre Cívic participated in several significant activities. Of particular interest was our experience in promotions ofspecial cooperative housing for the elderly. We talked about it at the conference on collaborative housing and innovative care practices, organized by the University of Bristol, and in another session with the Dutch entity ZorgSaamWonen. We shared experiences and research on the intersection between collaborative housing, care and aging. 

We also had time to address the mass renovation of affordable housing and the energy transition in different seminars, sharing the strategy of Sostre Cívic and exchanging ideas and solutions on cooperative housing models and environmental and social sustainability with other international experiences in this field.

We were invited to prominently participate in the session which sought to explore the creation of one “European network of emerging community-led cooperative housing organizations” on Thursday afternoon at Espai Francesca Bonnemaison. We shared the stage with representatives of the Tenement Syndicate i Sauriassl Syndikat from Germany, Habicoop France, Cooplink Netherlands, MOBA Housing CSEE, ID22 Institute for Creative Sustainability, IWO and Living in Metropolis SCE, the Legacoopabitanti from Italy This forum is a proposal of the Pan European Cooperation among Cooperatives (CooperativeHousing.eu), a network of initiatives from countries with different traditions in the field of housing cooperatives.

The aim of this network is to support the creation of affordable cooperative housing, exchange knowledge between the different groups of stakeholders and obtain funding through the EIB (European Investment Bank) for small-scale housing cooperatives. The interventions focused on deepening how these goals can be achieved, bearing in mind that in each country or region the problems are determined by local circumstances.

In addition, within the Festival the book was presented "Cohousing in Barcelona", edited by Actar with the collaboration of Barcelona City Council, available in English and Catalan versions. This book includes an interesting compilation of cooperative housing projects in Barcelona, ​​both finished and under construction. It explains how the cohousing process is managed in terms of architecture, town planning, financing, legality and taxation, and delves into the experience of living in a community fueled by the cooperative spirit. Our projects in the capital stand out: Princesa49, La Balma i Cirerers.

In these projects, Sostre Cívic organized tours for ISHF participants, who had the opportunity to learn first-hand the concrete results of our model and the positive impact that Sostre Cívic has had in the community and in the lives of the residents. Attendees were able to see first-hand the residential spaces designed both for community living and to provide a dignified roof at an affordable and stable price for our members.

In addition to visits to the buildings, Sostre Cívic promoted and organized a networking dinner during the ISHF in conjunction with the Housing Sector of the XES I la CoHabitat international network. The dinner was held at Nau Bostic and brought together more than 200 people between local institutional representatives and international entities in the field of cooperative housing such as Cooperative Housing International, CoHabitat network, Urban World o Habitat Participative France. Also representatives of numerous projects from around the world showed their commitment to promote the network model, and reviewed the trajectory lived with the example of the work of the host city's entities and the keys to continue growing and providing viable references to society In a relaxed atmosphere, it was possible to exchange project experiences and establish links that will facilitate the transfer of knowledge between people from different countries and help to expand the model to new territories.

Finally, the last day of the event was presented publicly the European Network of Community Land Trust (CLT). A “CLT” is a community structure that acquires and preserves land with the goal of providing affordable housing and promoting the common good. There are over 300 CLTs in the UK, Germany, France, Belgium or the Netherlands. The Barcelona ESAL agreement (of which the XES i HABICOOP) is part of and driving this new international network. The agreement was vindicated as a public-community structure to release land accessible to social housing foundations and cooperative housing in right of use. This European Network will connect and catalyze the movement, as well as increase the innovation capacity of CLTs to act as a solution for sustainable and affordable housing.

An excellent opportunity for international networking

This was the second time we participated in the ISHF, dafter our successful participation in the previous edition in Helsinki. Our participation in the Barcelona ISHF was a unique opportunity to connect with other agents of change in the field of social housing on an international scale. The ISHF was one space for debate and exchange of knowledge with professionals, academics and activists from around the world gathered to address social housing challenges and solutions. Through this exchange, we expanded our network of contacts and strengthened our strategies to address today's housing challenges.

In conclusion, our testimony at the ISHF in Barcelona is a demonstration of our commitment to the promotion ofaffordable, sustainable and inclusive housing. This festival gave us a unique platform to connect with other agents of change and contribute to building a world where everyone has access to decent housing outside the market.