Egaleo
Rock the Block - Integrated Participatory Roadmaps for Affordable Co-Living
About the project
Rock the Block addresses the vicious circle often created between low housing quality/unsatisfied housing needs and weak community bonds through a neighbourhood-based approach, rather than fragmented housing strategies. It employs ‘Polykatoikia’ as the intervention unit, which are mixed-used blocks of private residences and businesses common in Athens and characterised by balconies, stepped terraces and white paint.
The proposed solution tackles the related challenges in three solution pillars. Firstly, the project invests in physical and technical transformations focused on energy-efficiency, digital, aesthetic, functional, circular, and/or inclusive enhancements. These interventions are informed by new ‘Polykatoikias Action Plans’ developed following an open call.
Secondly, it promotes neighbourhood-community building and upskilling, through a ‘Co-living Hub’ hosting skills-building, caring, and educational actions. This is based on the principle that housing affordability is only secured within communities of mutual care.
Thirdly, it establishes a new municipal ‘Housing Office’ as a one-stop-shop for institutional housing protection and advice – offering housing-related consultation to all citizens for free.
The project thus demonstrates a new transferable urban policy tool comprising a public call, assessment, contracting, consultation, and a funding scheme. To support transfer, the project will translate its outcomes into integrated roadmaps for affordable co-living. These will lead to policy-briefs providing recommendations to policymakers in local, regional, and national authorities in terms of enhanced neighbourhood housing strategies.
Challenges
Rock the Block perceives ‘affordable housing’ as a need, right, and demand for quality housing infrastructure, satisfied housing needs, and mutual care. However, in post-crisis Greek cities, all these aspects are being challenged.
Citizens face increasing rent charges (+12% across Greece in 2022); ageing buildings (55% were built before the 1970s; 20% of them are older); energy poverty (35.6% of households are unable to pay bills on time); aesthetic poverty; and weakening social cohesion.
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The overarching challenge to be tackled is the vicious circle created between low-quality, ageing housing stock (35% before 1960, 50% between 1961-1980, 15% between 1981-2011), and unsatisfied housing needs (rent, heating, disrepair etc.).
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Fragmented housing strategies (e.g., Exoikonomo; Loan Programmes) employ ‘households’ as the intervention unit. Shared problems within blocks are continuously addressed at different speeds.
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In recent research about housing (ISTOPOL), 43% of households reported that there are management issues within blocks, low levels of agreement among residents and weak mutual support, leading to degradation of both buildings and quality of life.
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Renovation and green upgrading of housing infrastructure often leads to green gentrification and eviction.
Proposed solutions
The proposed solution operationalises the conceptual triad of ‘affordable housing’: quality housing infrastructure; satisfied housing needs; and care and support at the level of multi-residence blocks. It does this through three solution pillars: technical/physical transformations; community building and upskilling; and institutional care and support. Transfer and roll-out is supported through the development of policy briefs and recommendations aimed at enhanced neighbourhood housing strategies.
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Integrated action plans of investments in green, functional, aesthetic, circular and inclusive housing, funded through a two-fold funding scheme for permanent interventions (up to EUR 120 000 for each block) and new equipment (approx. EUR 160 000).
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Neighbourhood-community building, awareness raising, education, and upskilling connected to satisfying housing needs/expenses. Topics include: circularity; soft green skills; inclusion; and accessibility.
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Establishment of new municipal institutions in the form of the ‘Co-living Hub’ to support community building and the ‘Housing Office’ providing a one-stop-shop for free housing support and advice.
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Assessment of the ‘affordability plans’ and translation of the project’s outcomes into integrated roadmaps for affordable co-living, leading to policy briefs and recommendations.
Milestones
The open call ensures equal treatment, transparency and participation
The action plans set out integrated solutions for each polykatoikia
Tender documents will form the basis of the contractual agreement with contractors
The Handbook sets out all the neighbourhood-based joint affordability solutions
Institutionalisation of certain tools of urban and housing policy
Recommendations to policymakers at local, regional and national levels