Fuenlabrada
SHARE - Sustainable Housing Accommodation for a Regenerative Exchange
About the project
SHARE is a comprehensive community revitalisation solution to improve life in central Fuenlabrada. The area has been grappling with a range of challenges in recent decades, from deteriorated and vacant housing, to disused facilities, closed businesses and an ageing rate well above the city average.
While most housing solutions imply construction, new land consumption or just sharing homes, SHARE’s solution focuses on creating accessible, high quality living environments for seniors and young people affected by the area’s degradation. The project is based on three principles: 1) Reuse, rehabilitation and activation of community resources for sustainable local development; 2) Affordable, quality housing suitable for people of different ages; 3) Protective environments for early prevention of dependency.
These actions promote intergenerational solidarity and the repurposing of spaces, offering elderly residents an autonomy-maximising housing complex, in a former school. Meanwhile, young people gain access to the best space for an independent life in the highly demanded centre, in flats provided by elderly owners whose homes no longer correspond with their needs. SHARE also offers a personalised accompaniment service to connect young and old people with a network of relevant local resources.
To address this multidimensional challenge, SHARE is creating an
intersectoral community care unit, bringing together municipal services (housing, welfare, elderly, youth), partners (urban designers, new gerontological models) and other multilevel, transdisciplinary stakeholders.
The project’s new model is doubling the municipal youth rental offer, refurbishing 20 flats for up to 60 young tenants, while creating the city’s first programme for the early protection of non-dependent seniors’ autonomy for 20-40 elderly home-owners. The aim is to reactivate community life in a way that is inclusive, transdisciplinary, sustainable, beautiful and efficient.
Challenges
The city centre faces a range of challenges, from deteriorating and vacant housing, to disused facilities, closed businesses and an ageing rate well above the city average.
SHARE aims to foster adaptability and prolong usability, sharing resources to contribute to sustainable land-use and affordable housing. The project’s intergenerational model of community intervention brings young and elderly residents a solution suited to their resources and needs, while contributing to local development.
-
Providing accommodation and personalised support for 20-40 senior homeowners. This involves setting up a Program for the Early Protection of Autonomy (PEPA).
-
Increasing the availability of rental housing in the city centre.
-
Increasing the proportion of young people actively participating in the community.
Proposed solutions
SHARE aims to create accessible, high quality housing and support for seniors and young people in the city centre. A Solidarity Housing System (ISHS) will provide housing for young people in homes that no longer meet the needs of their elderly owners. In turn, owners benefit from a Program for the Early Protection of Autonomy, a Lifetime Housing Complex with accommodation and personalised support. Meanwhile, a community engagement programme supports intergenerational sharing among ISHS participants.
-
A former school is being rehabilitated as a Lifetime Housing Complex, designed to provide at least 20 long-stay homes for the 20-40 senior owners of apartments ceded to the Solidarity Housing System.
-
A Solidarity Housing System is being developed to house 40-60 young people in the city centre. This scheme requires elderly participants to provide their own homes.
-
In exchange for being part of SHARE and having efficient housing in the centre at an affordable cost, young beneficiaries will each participate in an estimated 10 hours of community engagement activities per month.
Milestones
Work starts on setting up the SHARE project’s management structures and governance framework
Inspiring designs for building a Lifelong Housing Complex in a former school, based on NEB values
The City Centre Community Care Unit coordinates various municipal areas, partners and relevant stakeholders
Bringing together the Lifelong Housing Complex and a community-led Local Care Ecosystem
The Intergenerational Solidarity Housing System will provide accessible housing and support to young and elderly residents
Connecting generations, enabling young people to do voluntary work in return for reduced city centre rent