Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DASH (Deliver sAfe and Social Housing)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Over 1 billion people worldwide live in inadequate housing - a figure expected to double by 2030. In response, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11.1) call for ensuring access to adequate and affordable housing by 2030, prompting governments to scale up housing delivery. Yet, many current policies fall short, as standardized, low-quality social housing projects are often built on city peripheries, isolating residents from job opportunities and essential services. This scenario not only affects living standards but also undermines the social fabric and mental well-being of communities.
The Delivering sAfe and Social Housing (DASH) project is conceived within this challenging context and is designed to bridge the gap between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities. Recognizing that housing is not merely a physical asset but also a cornerstone of social life, DASH combines a systematic evaluation of housing policy frameworks with an in-depth exploration of local practices and stakeholder experiences. This perspective is critical for understanding the diverse and complex mechanisms underlying housing provision, especially in middle-sized cities -urban areas that, despite being less studied, are poised for significant growth and face unique housing challenges.
DASH sets four main goals for addressing housing challenges across participating countries – Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Serbia – and their second-tier cities – Aalborg, Tübingen, Braga, Čačak:
1. Mapping the current state and newer developments:
The project is systematically mapping housing markets and the existing housing stock, with a particular focus on social housing systems in 2nd-tier cities. It is assessing how these systems align with SDG 11 targets, examining factors such as tenure structures, funding sources, and the roles of public, private, and non-profit actors.
2. Defining housing concepts:
DASH investigates how key concepts - such as “affordable,” “safe,” “inclusive,” and “sustainable” - are understood and implemented in different national and local contexts.
3. Learning about and coproducing housing solutions:
Through thematic learning hubs, secondments, and participatory methods like workshops, the project facilitates a dynamic exchange of expertise among researchers, local authorities, and stakeholders.
4. Advancing global influence:
DASH aims to shape future housing policies and practices both within Europe and internationally by actively disseminating its lessons learned and innovative practices.
The Delivering sAfe and Social Housing (DASH) project is conceived within this challenging context and is designed to bridge the gap between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities. Recognizing that housing is not merely a physical asset but also a cornerstone of social life, DASH combines a systematic evaluation of housing policy frameworks with an in-depth exploration of local practices and stakeholder experiences. This perspective is critical for understanding the diverse and complex mechanisms underlying housing provision, especially in middle-sized cities -urban areas that, despite being less studied, are poised for significant growth and face unique housing challenges.
DASH sets four main goals for addressing housing challenges across participating countries – Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Serbia – and their second-tier cities – Aalborg, Tübingen, Braga, Čačak:
1. Mapping the current state and newer developments:
The project is systematically mapping housing markets and the existing housing stock, with a particular focus on social housing systems in 2nd-tier cities. It is assessing how these systems align with SDG 11 targets, examining factors such as tenure structures, funding sources, and the roles of public, private, and non-profit actors.
2. Defining housing concepts:
DASH investigates how key concepts - such as “affordable,” “safe,” “inclusive,” and “sustainable” - are understood and implemented in different national and local contexts.
3. Learning about and coproducing housing solutions:
Through thematic learning hubs, secondments, and participatory methods like workshops, the project facilitates a dynamic exchange of expertise among researchers, local authorities, and stakeholders.
4. Advancing global influence:
DASH aims to shape future housing policies and practices both within Europe and internationally by actively disseminating its lessons learned and innovative practices.
Over the past two years, the DASH project has made significant progress in advancing research on social and affordable housing in Portugal, Denmark, Germany, and Serbia. A key milestone has been the publication at the end of 2024 of a collaborative book “Social Housing. Opportunities and Challenges. Perspectives from Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Serbia” edited by Alves, S., Anderson, H-T., Keunen, E., Vuksanović-Macura, Z., offering comparative insights into social housing at both national and local levels.
Through secondments, DASH has fostered intersectoral knowledge exchange, strengthening cooperation among partners, supporting joint research efforts, and generating new collaborations.
The project has already delivered notable scientific contributions, including published and forthcoming peer-reviewed articles on rent regulation, social housing policies, and urban sustainability and conference presentations at major international forums, shaping housing policy discussions.
By integrating diverse perspectives and fostering intersectoral collaboration, DASH contributes to evidence-based housing policies that support sustainable, inclusive, and affordable urban development.
Through secondments, DASH has fostered intersectoral knowledge exchange, strengthening cooperation among partners, supporting joint research efforts, and generating new collaborations.
The project has already delivered notable scientific contributions, including published and forthcoming peer-reviewed articles on rent regulation, social housing policies, and urban sustainability and conference presentations at major international forums, shaping housing policy discussions.
By integrating diverse perspectives and fostering intersectoral collaboration, DASH contributes to evidence-based housing policies that support sustainable, inclusive, and affordable urban development.
DASH advances housing research by integrating governance structures, market dynamics, and social practices, providing a more comprehensive analysis of housing challenges. A key achievement so far is the shared methodological framework, enabling cross-country comparisons and knowledge transfer across institutional, legal, and financial housing models. This has generated new insights into rent regulation, tenure security, cooperative housing, housing policies for specific groups, participatory urban planning and social housing governance, leading to evidence-based recommendations.
The project also engages stakeholders through co-production methods, fostering practical, context-sensitive solutions. Through secondments and collaborative research, DASH strengthens international networks and promotes scalable policy innovations. To maximize impact, DASH underscores the need for further research on affordability and sustainability, stronger regulatory frameworks, and enhanced collaboration between public and private sectors.
Findings so far confirm that policy transfer depends on local governance and socio-economic conditions, reinforcing the need for targeted municipal support in developing effective housing solutions.
The project also engages stakeholders through co-production methods, fostering practical, context-sensitive solutions. Through secondments and collaborative research, DASH strengthens international networks and promotes scalable policy innovations. To maximize impact, DASH underscores the need for further research on affordability and sustainability, stronger regulatory frameworks, and enhanced collaboration between public and private sectors.
Findings so far confirm that policy transfer depends on local governance and socio-economic conditions, reinforcing the need for targeted municipal support in developing effective housing solutions.