In a series of talks on social housing in cities (2019 and 2020), representatives of politics and administration, business and organized civil society were brought together to discuss current challenges in the field of housing.
Cities are breeding grounds for social change – both due to their high population density and their diversity. Urban spaces and neighborhoods are rapidly becoming experimental and learning spaces for social, cultural, technical and economic innovations. Increasing conflicts over land use call for a productive and understanding-oriented debate between the various interest groups in order to jointly develop sustainable solutions for living together in the future.
We are convinced that strengthening participation on the ground not only leads to sustainable urban development, but also contributes to a trusting culture of discussion and cooperative networking. After all, the major urban policy challenges of the future can only be overcome by working together. Viable solutions for sustainable urban development require close and democratically organized cooperation between all stakeholders.
We use special multi-actor formats such as the Trialogues ® of the Berlin Governance Platform in our urban development projects to network actors from politics and administration, business and organized civil society, and academia. For the synergy of city-related research and urban society actors, we thereby organize a systematic exchange in order to develop new approaches to solutions and to explore joint options for action.
Multi-stakeholder housing conversations (2019-2021).
Housing in metropolitan areas presents urban society, politicians and private housing companies with challenging questions about rents, new construction, neighborhood development and densification. Due in particular to the continuing population increase, demand for housing often exceeds supply. Rising housing costs, conflicting interests in the real estate sector and hardened fronts between the players involved characterize the current tense debate. The protest of residents is often directed against the increasing privatization of the housing market and against gentrification processes.
In order to pacify urban conflicts in the sense of a culture of participation at the city level, there is a need for a common level of discussion among the various actors and an exchange about the responsibility of private housing companies as well.
The multi-stakeholder talks on housing supply in cities offer the opportunity to discuss in a familiar setting how the ability of the actors involved to communicate and compromise can be promoted and which options for action can be used to bring the conflicting positions together. Organized by the Berlin Governance Platform and moderated by Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, 10-15 stakeholders discussed current issues of housing supply in Berlin at the Allianz Forum.
We are convinced that decisions relevant to society can only be strengthened and legitimized if the exchange between politics and administration, business, organized civil society and science is improved.
2019 - 2021
Dr. Melanie Kryst
