A multifaceted look at housing inequality in Europe: Highlights from the sister projects webinar
The webinar “The multiple manifestations of housing inequalities – Inclusive living, working and moving” recently concluded, offering rich, cross-cutting insights into housing inequality across Europe. Led by the HouseInc project and co-organised by five other EU-funded sister projects – SUPERSHINE, ProLight, POWGEN, PREFIGURE, and ReHousIn – the event brought together diverse research perspectives on how to make adequate, affordable housing accessible to all.
ReHousIn was represented by project coordinator Éva Gerőházi (Metropolitan Research Institute) and Jennifer Duyne Barenstein (ETH Zurich), who leads the Swiss research team within the project.
Each project tackled housing inequality from a distinct angle. For example, Sabine Preuß (HouseInc) explored how systemic discrimination – particularly related to income, family status, and disability, and other factors – affects housing quality in Germany and Italy, using both survey data and in-depth case studies. Flaminia Rocca (SUPERSHINE) showcased how socially inclusive renovation efforts, innovative financing, and co-creation with residents have enabled sustainable, energy-efficient upgrades in social housing across several European cities. Valentina Hira (ProLight) presented a replicable model of equitable urban renovation, sharing how three social housing units in Kozani, Greece were renovated through community engagement, strategic sponsorships, and energy-saving interventions. Nona Galvany Gómez (POWGEN) shared findings from their Good Practices Report, which identified ten European initiatives supporting migrants' – especially women's – inclusion in the green energy sector – highlighting actionable strategies for equitable energy transitions. Haris Tsavdaroglou (PREFIGURE) examined conditions in Greek refugee camps through the lens of “energy biopolitics,” revealing how energy infrastructures are used as tools of control, while also showcasing acts of resistance and agency among residents through “energy infrapolitics.”
After the presentation by Éva Gerőházi, who introduced the ReHousIn project and its methodology, Jennifer Duyne Barenstein’s presentation explored how green policies – particularly energy retrofitting and urban densification – are contributing to housing inequalities across nine European countries studied in the ReHousIn project. Drawing on early research findings, she highlighted that market-driven renovation schemes and densification efforts often disproportionately benefit wealthier homeowners and well-resourced municipalities, while excluding renters, vulnerable populations, and rural communities. Examples from countries like Italy, France, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain illustrated how subsidies, when not designed with social equity in mind, can deepen spatial and socioeconomic disparities.
Participants praised the depth and diversity of the presentations, noting how the webinar illustrated the many faces of housing inequality – and the importance of aligning climate, social, and housing policies to ensure a truly inclusive green transition.
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