The IFHP Housing Refugee Programme

Autumn 2015

Introduction of IFHP Housing Refugee Programme

In line with the original founders, we (the IFHP) commit ourselves professionally to housing of refugees.

Professionals can contribute in an unbiased way, irrespective of political ideology or bureacratic powerplay.

Housing of refugees is an urgent matter that is in need for accelerated professional learning.

Start up of a programme development from September 2015 consists of : • Filled out questionnaire by correspondents in 10 EU member states, analysed and reporterd in Report 1• Deventer lab on Housing of Refugees 19-20 October assessing the findings and development of considerations • The results of the Deventer lab are wrapped up and published in Report 2 • Dissemination of the findings of the Deventer IFHP Lab at the 51st ISOCARP Congress in Rotterdam 22-23 October

leading to a list of 50 professionals signing up to join the project on Housing of Refugees.

Read more and download Report 1 & 2: http://www.ifhp.org/news/ifhp-housing-refugee-programme

Of the many challenges to be dealt with, three are prominent across Europe in connection with the present flows of refugees/migrants:

• Housing & Integration• Housing and integration are often conceived under separate authorities;• Social considerations such as proximity to family, employment opportunities, education and community relationship

are integral for permanent housing places become homes.

• Housing Policy & Affordable Housing Allocation• High competition for affordable housing amplified by domestic housing policy;• Social and affordable housing shortage;• Varied housing allocation process and practices among countries and within countries.

• Zoning & Planning Regulation• Rigid regulation which limits the reuse of existing spaces for housing e.g. conversion of vacant office space, schools

and industrial facilities to support temporary housing.

Main conclusions: Questionnaire & Report 1 & Confirmed at the Lab 1

IFHP Deventer Statement on Housing Refugees, October 2015

The workshop addressed three main topics• Housing and integration• Housing Policy and allocation of affordable housing 7 considerations• Planning and associated regulations The focus is on recognized refugees that are entitled to be housed in the hosting country. Recommendation that local, regional and national governmental level take the following considerations into account.

Considerations 1 – 7

1. It should be considered that housing and integration services are combinded in a pathway approach

• Housing conditions and integration standards improve step by step for the refugee AND for the community

• The development should take place within the same community to benefit the integration process

2. It should be considered that matchmaking solutions could better respond to both refugees and municipalities‘ needs

• It is adviced to reform the information processing of refugees that includes skills and competences to enable a matchmaking process in connection with local needs.

3. It should be considered that a multi-agent approach is adapted to honour diversity in policy-making • the availability of existing stock AND building new stock• explore options for increasing housing supply by conversion of empty properties such as office buildings, churches, schools• explore the possibilities of encouraging self-built housing • more flexible accommodation options to match the needs now and in the near future• responsible relaxation of regulations

Involving politicians, professionals, NGOs, citizens and refugees 4. When providing permanent accommodation the demographic of the existing population should be taken into account• Screen & map stock demographics to avoid tension between existing population and refugees • Applying a multi-agency collaboration within the housing industry, refugee integration services and community stakeholders

Lack of homes in 1919 Germany: In this home, with only one room and a kitchen, lived 11 people

http://www.fluechtlinge-willkommen.de/ Wellness resort in Denmark – from 1868. Now housing for refugees

5. It should be considered that planning regulations allow for a certain degree of plasticity and flexibility within both spatial planning and housing regulations

6. It should be considered that planning zones are reallocated to enable the increased provision og affordable housing A reallocation of planning zones such as commercial, industrial, recreational, business etc. would provide more opportunities to develop housing

7. It should be considered that associated building regulations can be met under a phased programme Health, safety, environmental standards can be met in a phased manner allowing for the incremental devlopment of housing solutions to meet the available resources of tennant groups which includes do-it-yourself-forms of housing

The 7 considerations lead to the same conclusion: Possible solutions discouraged by policies, rules & regulations .... AND by praxis!

Rocket Science ... is taking the next step

IFHP Housing Refugee Programme

Professional sound of silence, needs a breakthrough in creating conditions for accelerated learning by

Europe is facing the challenges of an unprecedented scale of migration, which cannot be reversed. The IFHP wishes to contribute to current debates on housing of refugees by identifying lessons form research and practice through it’s international professional network

(IFHP Deventer Statement on Refugee Housing 20th of October 2015)

Action, less talk

IFHP Housing Refugee Programme

Upcoming activities 2015

• Blog: Information exchange and consolidation and building up of a professional community on Housing of Refugees

• IFHP Summit Berlin: Establishing a carrying capacity within the IFHP community for this topic

• Setting up an IFHP Working Group on Housing of Refugees to organize two (or more) Implementation Labs in the course of 2016

• Implementation labs, including a harvest conference / IFHP Summit of Housing of Refugees november 2016

• Involving professionals that have to deal with housing of refugees in their daily work, be it academia public or private.

• Call for invitations to host a Implementation Lab on Refugee Housing.

IFHP Housing Refugee Programme

BudgetA 3-day Implementation Lab €20.000,-A 1-day Harvest Conference €20.000,- Venue & catering in kind

Envisaged contributors / partnersIFHP – ISOCARP – ECTP – TCPA - BL Danish Housing Sector - BBU Association of Housing Companies Berlin–Bradenburg – City of Münich - Ministries of Housing - AEDES Association of Housing Corporations - European Commission – national NGOs like Red Cross or Refugee Councils.

1. What can you do? 2. What do you need from the Housing Refugee

Team to empower you to take action?





Implementation lab Impressions Vienna Odessa Novi Sad