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London’s Housing Crisis – A Community Approach to Urban Sustainability

Georgie Murrin: I am approaching my fourth year of studying Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews. However, I was born and raised in the city of London. I have watched the city expand and develop over the course of my childhood. My interest in London’s housing crisis was sparked by the stark contrast living within one of London’s largest boroughs. Just one street apart there lies several occupied, yet near-derelict council housing blocks, and on the other side of the road, a string of perfect multi-million-pound homes. I became fascinated with this divide and the gentrification of the areas surrounding me, questioning how such an innovative and successful city could fail to provide basic housing needs for all citizens.

Author bio

London is facing one of the largest urban challenges: the megacity is failing to provide affordable housing for all residents. For years, housing supply has fallen below demand. The root of the issue has been highly debated; some suggest the lack of affordable housing is due to the ‘Right to Buy Scheme’, while others suggest it is partly due to the foreign market and a lack of new affordable housing build in the past century.

This report presents London’s housing crisis: its roots, the primary and secondary implications of this, evaluates the current policies and projects which exist to mitigate housing pressures, and offers an alternative framework which utilises a ‘systems-thinking’ and collaborative approach that places communities and people at the forefront of future developments.

This report offers an original and creative dual approach to combat London’s housing crisis, a ‘self-building’ model and the ‘Nightingale approach’, both of which favour a tripled bottom line (development that values people, planet and profit equally), for a community-centred solution to the UK capital’s housing challenge.

1. Introduction.

London’s most ubiquitous urban challenge is the ability to provide affordable housing for all residents. For years housing supply has fallen below demand. One in three Londoners believes the urban housing crisis is the biggest issue the city faces today (London Assembly, 2020). This essay outlines the root cause of the current housing crisis, the primary and secondary implications of this, evaluates the current policies and projects which exist to mitigate housing pressures, and offers an alternative framework which utilises a ‘systems-thinking’ and collaborative approach between communities and municipalities, placing the people at the forefront of all development. Finally, this paper concludes with proposing two models, ‘self-building’ and the ‘Nightingale-Approach’ as feasible, Community Centralised solutions to London’s affordable housing challenge. 

2. The History of London’s Housing.

Over the decades, London’s housing shortage has primarily been caused by a failure to build new houses, meaning that, while population has increased, affordable housing stocks have not. According to the Office of National Statistics, more people live in London than ever before (8.9 million in 2019)(National Statistics, 2019). This equates to an average increase in population of just over one per cent (1.1%) annually since 2012. This is nearly an additional 100,000 people to house each year. Despite this, according to the Greater London Housing Authority, in 2017, just over 20,030 new homes were built each year over the previous decade (Data Store, 2020).

The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, estimates we would need to build a minimum of 66,000 new homes each year to cope with this increased demand (London Assembly, 2020). However, since this estimation was made in 2017, we have continually fallen short of this building goal, particularly with the uncertainty of Brexit and COVID19 this past year—only 10,000 homes were built (GLA Housing, 2020).   

Despite London’s failure to build enough homes over the most recent decade, to accommodate an ever-growing population, many cite the root of this shortage due to the vast selling of the council house stock to the private sector in the 1980’s. Margaret Thatcher’s introduction to the controversial ‘Right to Buy’ policy offered the opportunity for lower class council home renters to buy their houses from the government at 33% discount on market price (tenants who live there more than 3 years), as well as 100% mortgages from the local authority) (Cole, I , 2015). Supporters of the scheme claim it gave aspirational working-class citizens the chance to improve their financial circumstances and the safety net of owning their own home. While others suggest it amounted to a “sub-market flogging of public assets” that untimely lead to disordered housing prices and substantial reduction (1.8 million homes sold through this scheme) of housing stocks, the consequence of which we have still not recovered from today (Booth, R, 2017).

3. The Implications of Housing Shortages.

Due to this shortage of stock, the cost of renting and purchasing houses has become inflated across the market, resulting in unaffordable housing options. As a result, long-term local inhabitants are pushed out, in favour of wealthier clientele, often from overseas. Of the new properties built in the capital, only 38% of them are deemed affordable by the government (Ibid). To solve this urban sustainability challenge, 65% of all new builds need to be affordable. According to ECA international consultancy, London is the most expensive city within Europe to rent, estimated at triple the cost of the average European city (ECA, 2020). 

The primary implication of slow building rates and an inherent lack of affordable housing supply has resulted in one in three Millennials never being able to afford a house in the UK – let alone those who want to live in London. Since London is a capital city, housing has always been more expensive than the rest of the UK. However, this gap has widened – with housing prices in 2018 being 13x the median gross annual earnings compared to an average of 8x across the rest of the UK (Gov, 2019) For context, since 2007, this number has doubled. As a result, there has been an increase in pressures to provide ‘social housing’ for Londoners.

Social housing, also known as council housing, has rent factored into local incomes and provides an affordable housing option for individuals and families (Shelter, 2020). The idea is that social housing is more affordable than renting privately (typically between 40-60% less) and provides a more secure, long-term tenancy for those in need. From 2016-19, it was calculated that 17% of households in England lived in social housing (3.9 million) (Gov, 2020). Additionally, 1.2 million people across the UK are currently on the waiting list, but only 6,463 social homes were built between 2017-2018 (Ibid). As a result of London’s slow new-build rate, and consequent high rent and buying prices, and limited social housing stocks, it is estimated that nearly 1 in 50 Londoners are now homeless (70,000 people in the capital are sleeping rough) (Shelter, 2020).  

In addition to rising homelessness, there are two key secondary implications of a lack of affordable housing. Firstly, a considerable proportion of people aged 18 to 39 are considering leaving London forever (Sortland, 2020). This is problematic, because they are taking their talents with them, posing a substantial risk to London’s competitive advantage over its global rivals. Failure to attract and retain skilled people (including key workers) for all types of work undermines the rich mix of abilities needed to make the city function and prosper. The scale of this loss is exemplified in a study by Total Jobs, finding that more people were moving out of London than moving in (between the ages of 25-34)—net loss of 88 workers every day (Total Jobs, 2020). Of those surveyed, the most common reason given was their inability to afford housing, contributing to London’s financial inaccessibility. Since London’s population is already growing older each year (Age UK, 2021), the shift of young citizens leaving may result in drastic systematic change, the implications of which are simply unknown.  

 

Secondly, this affordability crisis perpetuates gentrification, resulting in more residents being pushed out of central London, inviting an influx of super-wealthy foreign buyers who can keep up with rising housing prices. 75% of new homes in central London go to foreign buyers (LSE, 2017). Many overseas clients purchase these apartments as second homes; thus, they remain empty for much of the year, meaning local economies, particularly amenities, are not stimulated in the same way as they would be with local residents. As a result, communities are displaced and fractured, reducing the quality of life for many Londoners. In the Mayor’s own words, the housing crisis affects “social cohesion, causes poor health and plunges residents into poverty” (Verdict, 2018). 

4. The Current Policy.

 The next section evaluates the current policy in place to mitigate this urban sustainability challenge. The Mayor’s approach to the London housing crisis is outlined in the London Housing Strategy, formally adopted by the Secretary of State, communities and Government in August 2018 (Greater London Authority, 2018). The Mayor’s previous version was rejected because it was deemed unsustainable and did not create enough new affordable housing. This 2018 version does just that, “addressing the housing shortage through an intensive use of London’s available land, focusing on more genuinely affordable housing and providing help now for people feeling the effects of the housing crisis – from private renters to rough sleepers” (Ibid). It focuses on five key areas; 1) building more homes for Londoners, 2) delivering genuinely affordable homes, 3) high-quality homes and inclusive neighbourhoods, 4) a fairer deal for private renters and leaseholders, 5) tackling homelessness and helping rough sleepers (Ibid).  

This plan brings together vital policies and proposals, and actions for implementation.   

However, the Mayor has achieved less than half the projects outlined in 2018. This is in part due to Covid-19 inhibiting supply chains and the ability to operate; however, since 2018, with a budget of 4.82 billion to build 116,000 affordable homes by 2022, as of December 2020, they had only begun 56,239. The Mayor has been criticised for not meeting his annual targets. However, he claims that City Hall requires a “seven-fold increase in funding to build the number of affordable homes the Capital needs”.  

Research was undertaken by CLA and G15 – London’s most prominent housing associates, revealing the city needs just under 5 billion pounds (GBP) per year to meet housing needs (CLA & G15, 2019). Khan recognises this; “despite Government Ministers failing to provide London with the full funding our city needs, I’m determined to help build the high quality, genuinely affordable homes that Londoners so desperately need and deserve (Greater London Authority, 2018).” Fundamentally, the government cannot fund the housing crisis alone, and until alternative solutions are devised, this problem will not be solved.   

This claim has been met by a further 4 billion pounds (GBP) put towards the ‘Affordable Homes Program’ (2021-26) to begin building 82,000 new homes (Gov, 2020). This new report states that the Mayor has ditched the ‘dodgy’ definition used by ministers who believe that affordable is circa 80% of the market rate (Ibid). Instead, the Mayor favours a more inclusive understanding of affordability based on average earning prices, safety, security, equity, diversity and sustainability (now termed London Living Rent). These updated standards mean there is a heightened focus on quality and quantity for the new builds over the 2021-26 period.   

5. The Current Programs.

The government has agreed to direct half towards Social Rent, primarily through the ‘Building Council Homes’ program, enabling councils to return to their role as significant homebuilders in London. This trend has not been seen since circa the 1930s, which saw the most extensive council housing creation in London’s history. As a new solution, the Building Council Homes strategy focuses on encouraging housing associations and private developers to work with councils to share skills and resources to form formal partnerships and collaborations (Ibid). An example would be “engaging in two-way secondments of staff swaps between council staff and partner teams” (Greater London Authority, 2018). Greater collaboration between the private and public sector has been cited as one of the most effective means of achieving results (Public Review 18, 2016). It has the potential to empower London, not only by creating a more just environment, but a city that engages with the ‘ethereal’ principles of living together, permitting people to remain local to ‘home’ and work (Harvey, 2008). This notion is conveyed in David Harvey’s ‘Right to the City’ (2008). The idea that as citizens, we have a right to remain in our city and to access affordable housing (Ibid). 

For decades, London’s affordable housing scheme has been a normative, centralised and top-down approach to urban planning (Horelli, 2013). As suggested in ‘New approaches to Urban planning’ (2013), our municipalities have not yet recognized the significance of genuine citizen participation in community development, which is why this paper concludes that current policy falls short in actively making London’s housing market accessible for all (Ibid). Although London’s new ‘Building Council Homes’ strategy aims to involve both the public and private sector, establishing a renewed interdisciplinary approach for the first time in London’s history, this paper maintains that too little progress has been made to validate this approach. 

6. Why Current Policy & Programs Fall Short.

Current policy falls short for several reasons. Firstly, because affordable housing is centralized around profitability (especially with private developers), which is why demand inevitably outstrips supply, housing prices continue to rise and increase competitiveness pressures inexorably. Secondly, it focuses solely on overall housing supply rather than addressing tenure – attention to detail, community needs, sustainability of homes, rather than believing that centralised policy change could increase supply in the long term and resolve complex issues around affordability.  

 

Thirdly, the solutions posed are always based on seeking additional public finances. As past trends in government funding have delineated, more money does not necessarily mean greater results. Our governmental bodies are still “turning a blind eye not only to the most important users of the urban environment”, but also to creators of the most current data and knowledge regarding our affordable housing needs (Pissourious, 2014). Without integrating elements of this bottom-up, community centralised approach, new strategies will continue to marginalise those who require support the most. 

Given the above, this paper suggests that, although this policy change is moving in the right direction, current policy falls short. In order to provide enough long-term, sustainable affordable housing to meet London’s current and future needs, there needs to be a unilateral systemic shift, which will only occur if the focus is transferred from policy to people. In David Harvey’s words, “justice is simply whatever the ruling class wants, (Harvey, 2008) ” and as it stands, the ruling class does not consider the needs of the working class and lower income households at present.

8. A Shift in Perspective – Community-based Solutions.

This paper proposes that the shift from policy to people should be realised through community-based solutions, as they are the only way to ensure sustainable growth and the needs of local citizens. The notion that social justice and sustainability for communities should be a priority in policy is a view grounded in academic literature. Scott D Campbell’s ‘Green City…’ (1996) paper suggests that communities should be at the forefront of design and innovation rather than an afterthought both in policy and implementation (Campbell, 1996). He suggests that planners have devised a ‘triangle’ consisting of social equity, economic development and environmental development. In the middle, there is “sustainable development, which cannot directly be reached, and as a consequence, it is approximated or indirectly touched on” (Ibid). To adequately implement sustainable development into urban planning to create just cities, he maintains that social theory and environmental thinking must be combined to interlink the ‘triangle’ and to represent the community’s actual needs (Ibid). 

With this in mind, the next section of this paper evaluates the role of the community, illustrating a way to involve local citizens within development and policy decisions through a democratic approach to home-building. Currently, the Mayor holds the policy-making and decision-making power (Greater Housing Authority, 2019). The power to plan is implemented through policy by setting out strategic measures to ensure London’s boroughs contribute to development. Conversely, the decision-making power permits him to rule for or against planning applications submitted by councils. This paper suggests that it should be an either or. There are strengths and weaknesses in both approaches. However, the first appeals more towards a community-centric approach because it allows communities to drive development where they need to most without worrying about rejected applications at the final ‘decision-making’ stage. Maria Kaika’s 2017 paper on ‘New Urban Agenda’ highlights the need for this shift, from state to population in order to meet the call for “safe, resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities (Kaika, 2017)”.

A more democratic approach would pay greater attention to marginalised voices, permitting all local voices from all classes to ‘heard’ and changes to be driven by communities. One method to implement this would be for local communities to elect and vote on several individuals from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds to represent the wider community. Community meetings, focus groups, online surveys and improvement boxes could allow local citizens to voice their needs and concerns to these elected community representatives, who could then feedback to councils on a set timeline to allow councils to allocate resources and funding towards community-derived projects.  

Two factors would drive this approach: firstly, financial incentives from London City Council directed towards these community-based projects. Secondly, local citizens would be able to run on their own self-determination. This notion allowing citizens to have the right to self-determination is a fundamentalist perspective grounded in Western Philosophy’s ‘Autonomy Argument’ (Stanford, 2003), which suggests that people are more likely to engage when they are given the right to choose. Shepard’s research (2016) found that communities that do not perceive themselves as having self-determination or control over aspects of their lives (such as housing) are less readily engaged with local projects, education, housing development simply because they are ‘passive’ in the equation of change (Shepard, 2016). 

7a. Model 1 – Self- Building.

The above system’s thinking and collaborative approach to housing development places the emphasis on the community to build to suit their individualized needs. Applying this strategy, the last section of this paper presents two possible building models as solutions for London’s current affordability crisis. The first model is the notion of ‘self-building’, comprised of a large-scale self-building projects directed by local communities. The second is termed the ‘Nightingale model’, a triple bottom line approach to architecture(Centre for Universal Design, 2014). Simply put, this approach to architecture and property development values people, planet and profit equally.

As of 2020, 1 in 3 adults in the UK stated that they were interested in self-building (Lloyd, 2015). However, the UK’s current standard procedure does not lend itself to this autonomous and egalitarian approach, due to the rigorous building standards and policy hurdles. Applications are often rejected (City council still holds decision-making power) on vague statements such as deemed ‘unneighbourly development’ or ‘impact on amenity’ simply because individual council representatives deem them to be so (Collinson, 2011). This has previously made this model inaccessible. Nonetheless, with the above suggestion of electing local representatives to permit greater community autonomy paving the way for a more democratic approach to home building, the self-building model could lend itself to creating sustainable and affordable housing. 

This is not a new concept; self-building is already extremely popular in other European countries and has seen great success in tackling the affordable housing crises and building sustainable homes centered around community requirements. For example, in Berlin, a group of single mothers united with local authorities to commission a block of flats (Ibid). They now rent these apartments at an affordable rate and have a comprehensive support network for raising their children. Amsterdam offers land packages and low-interest financing for self-builders who are registered on their statutory housing list. 

Furthermore, during the 1980s, 13 families built their homes in the London suburb of Honor Oak. These families knew nothing about home building; they were guided by the inspirational German Architect Walter Segal, who believed that anyone could build their own home as long as they could cut a straight line. Segal’s modular grid structure, made from recycled material inspired these beautiful homes, voiding these homeowners of complicated technical cement and plaster trades (Wainwright, 2016). The families described the approach as totally inspiring; with the local council’s support, they had the freedom to create a small community that worked for all the families. The architect Rod Hackney observed that “it is a dangerous thing to underestimate the human potential and the energy which can be generated when people are given the opportunity to help themselves.”  

7a. Model 1 – Self- Building.On a site in Ladywell, only a few miles away from this original design, the council (2016) agreed to hand over the land on a long-term lease to the Rural-Urban Synthesis Society to allow 33 new homes to be built. These have various rent options (social rents, shared ownership), allowing them to remain affordable in perpetuity as the land lease has been linked to local incomes. In addition to cutting costs through ‘sweat equity’ (the element of self-building), these homes are made with sustainable materials, as well as being energy efficient, keeping running costs low. Additionally, a shared roof garden provides a sustainable food supply, and a community hall and kitchen allow inhabitants to connect and live socially as a community.   

Applicants who were interested in this self-building scheme would be offered a plot by the local council to build their own home or buy already finished homes at reduced rates or long-term leases. Local council planning officials could then be retrained to assist new builders, alongside collaborating with local council representatives to ensure self-building projects were aligned with wider community goals. These homes show us “how self-build can work at high density on urban sites, not just be confined to one-off houses in the countryside”. They are a democratic collective effort that place residents at the forefront of financial return (and long-term stability), sustainability (investing in a shared future) and most importantly, liveability. These three elements have been cited as a tripled bottom-line approach, a concept grounded in the ‘Nightingale model’, which lends itself as an alternative affordable housing approach for those who do not feel confident in self-building alone but still desire a centralised community approach.  

7b. Model 2 – Nightingale Housing.

The Nightingale Housing approach has taken off in Australia and has since won multiple awards for its design (Cumming, 2018). Nightingale Housing provides socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable apartments – “we believe that homes should be built for people, not profit” (Nightingale Principles, 2021). This model could easily be applied to London areas, where councils have larger plots that are suitable for more extensive development opportunities. This design cuts out everything that is not essential, marketing display suits, second bathrooms, profit margins, and focuses on sustainable material, energy-saving techniques and a sense of community (Ibid). The result is comfortable and stylish homes occupied with residents that have similar goals and interests.   

This design model could serve as a simplified template for communities throughout London boroughs to make their own based on their needs. This option would allow communities to take control of their future homes in the same way as self-building. However, it would offer a pre-determined structural design for those looking for a smaller and more financially stable means of accessing social housing. This paper suggests that if this architectural model was available for citizens to access, communities could form groups of like-minded people to propose a ‘new development’ in the local area using this model to work alongside councils to create a solution that works for everyone.   

8. Conclusion.

To conclude, this paper has addressed London’s affordability housing crisis, deducing that the current challenges stem from a lack of new builds, in addition to the inflation of prices of current stocks available. This paper has summarised the resulting primary and secondary implications, as well as evaluating past and current policy in order to assess the progress and strategies being taken by the City Council. Subsequently, this paper concludes that, while policy is moving in the right direction towards a collaborative and inter-disciplinary approach, current procedure still falls short, because it still focuses on numbers (profit and number of houses built), rather than individual and community needs. Advocating for a strategy that provides communities with autonomy and a sense of responsibility would have a greater impact on solving the housing crisis and on improving the quality of life for citizens more broadly. Finally, this outlines two possible frameworks as solutions to implement within London to provide affordable, sustainable and long-term housing options for all residents. 

9. Works Cited.

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The Roma community in Polígono Sur: Improving the right to, and quality of, housing.

Mikaela Carmichael: I am interested in this area of research as a Spaniard myself. While I have no direct relation to the Roma community, I have witnessed the extent to which discriminatory attitudes in Spain have impacted access to, and quality of, housing and, as such, feel a duty to understand the persistence of this phenomenon.

Author bio

The Roma community throughout Europe has faced extensive persecution and racism. As a result, the housing crisis experienced Spain has been felt particularly acutely in the largely Roma neighbourhood of Polígono Sur. This is evidenced by inadequate housing conditions, insecure tenure, and high rates of gang related crime. Previous policy attempts to solve this crisis have centred on forced resettlement and have taken a fragmented sectoral approach, further perpetuating an impression of Roma dependence on the state and driving inequality. I propose a more participatory, incremental, asset-based approach, which centres the strengths and needs of the community, rather than its deficiencies. Alternative mechanisms are needed to ensure the dignity and housing rights of the community are protected, and I posit mutual aid networks, community land trusts, and collaboration with existing movements as the most immediate and effective ways of enacting this change. These measures are already noted within the community at an informal level, indicating the potential for them to be scaled up to great effect. Crucially, any measures taken should reflect the reflect the strengths of the Roma community, and should centre their participation and insight.

1.Understanding this report.

The purpose of this report is to propose some measures that you, the Roma community in Polígono Sur, can take yourselves to improve housing. This report is aimed at the self-defined Gitano community but is equally applicable to the challenges faced by more recent Roma migrants in Seville who face similar socioeconomic challenges. Hereafter I will use the term Roma when referring to both groups, unless specifying one group, in which case I will distinguish using the term Gitano to refer to the settled Spanish community, and Roma to refer to more recent migrants to Spain (Mazzini and Piemontese 2016).

The report will set out a broad overview of three suggestions which may help to improve the right to housing, and the quality of housing itself. These suggestions are in no way comprehensive, and it is important to be clear that they are not prescriptive either. Rather, they serve to spark conversations around new directions the community can take. I aim to give a brief overview of the strengths and limitations of each measure.

I have also listed some sources at the end of this document which may be beneficial in further explaining some of the ideas raised in this briefing and in providing frameworks on how to implement them.

2. Context of challenges.

It is crucial to be clear that the housing challenges facing the community have come about largely as a result of institutional discrimination and neglect, and not through any fault of the community itself (Piemontese 2016) (Miranda et al. 2019). The distribution of housing, which has been largely segregated, placed Gitano families in marginal urban areas and has hindered social integration and cohesion with the wider Spanish population. There is also strong evidence that shows the community receives fewer benefits from the state than the average Spanish citizen, which contradicts damaging media portrayals of the Roma community as dependant on state aid (Laparra and Macías 2009) (Trehan 2009). In fact, the community is incredibly resilient and has persevered in the face of very difficult circumstances.

The Roma political response to these issues has been hindered by the spatial dispersion of communities and low levels of political participation, which are in great part the product of these wider contextual factors (Bancroft 2001). On top of this, the Spanish political system only recognises political entities if they are tied to a particular region, which has meant that Roma resistance has been fragmented from one autonomous region to another. Of the associations Gitanos are members of, most tend to be ethnic-based, and there is little participation in non-Roma organisations (Laparra and Macías 2009).

However, Gitano and Roma political involvement seems to be shifting. El Consejo del Pueblo Gitano – created in 2006 – was the first step towards political representation and since then, other platforms have emerged which unite the Roma movement. For example, Plataforma Khetane provides a platform which represents Roma NGOs and organisations under a common cause, uniting the fight for antigitanismo (anti-gyspsyism) and Roma rights. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano suggests that collaboration between Roma and non-Roma actors is the way forward. This reflects a trend of increased community organisation, which bodes well for the future, as development will depend on collective action within the community (Lagunas Arias 2010).

3. Note on the impact of Covid-19 on the community.

It is also necessary to take this moment to note the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on the Roma community. Flea-markets and outdoor vending are of great economic importance to the community, and these have been severely impacted, which has had a knock-on effect in amplifying inequality, making it all the more necessary to act now (Laparra and Macías 2009). This urgency is also heightened by the increased stigmatization of the Roma community by sensationalist media outlets and the far-right during this time of crisis and by the withdrawal of state support – patterns that were also noticed following the 2008 financial crash, and which are likely to persist if action is not taken. However, while this crisis has impacted people severely, it also presents opportunities for change and innovation (Maestri 2014).

4. Approach.

The measures set out in the following report all take an Asset-Based approach, which evolved from the Asset Based Community Development framework. This means that instead of looking for the problems in the community, you look instead for the strengths, and at the way these strengths can be used to meet the specific challenges facing the community (Harrison et al. 2019). This can help to reduce the falsely held preconception of the Roma community as dependant on the state, by illustrating their strengths instead of their deficiencies (Piemontese 2016).

It is also vital that the community identifies what these challenges are. As the ones with lived experience of the place, you are the people best placed to understand what will work and what will not (Oprea 2004). I have tried to apply this principle throughout my report by integrating findings from research conducted with, rather than about, the Roma community in Polígono Sur (Miranda et al. 2019).

I have also tried to apply this in the measures I have suggested. All of the steps identified in this report play on strengths identified about the Roma community in the literature I have been able to access. This is in no way comprehensive, and it is ultimately up to the Roma community to identify what these strengths are, and how to use them. Hopefully, this document can serve to integrate academic debates and on the ground conversations about potential routes of action.

Based on my reading, the most pressing challenges around housing were insecure tenure and inadequate buildings (Miranda et al. 2019). In response to this, I have set out three measures, which address these issues on different scales. The measures I have set out include Community Land Trusts, Mutual Aid Networks and alignment with other groups in similar socioeconomic positions. While these may sound like quite abstract ideas, they are based on the principle of meeting the community’s most basic needs first. I will elaborate on how they can help in coordinating meaningful development and securing improved land rights.

5. Challenge 1 – housing tenure explained.

Housing tenure refers to the legal status and financial arrangement that someone has to live in a property. This matters because without secure tenure, people can be evicted from their homes (Dittmar and Kelbaugh 2018). This is a trend which is increasingly being noted among members of the Roma community in every autonomous region in Spain. A civil society monitoring report on the national Roma integration strategy in Spain indicates that loss of home ownership comes as a result of informal transfer of property (e.g., between family members). This is attributed to inflated housing costs and to families being given their current homes as endorsement for previous homes, not given proper tenure by the state, and finally being evicted (Plataforma Khetane et al. 2018).

This is particularly important for the Roma community since there is a history of land buy-outs and relocations associated with insecure tenure that many will remember. The most memorable might be the relocation from Triana to Polígono Sur (Miranda et al. 2019), which happened in the 1960’s and involved the forced resettlement of the Roma community on the basis that the land they lived on was flood-prone and not fit for habitation. Conversations about the demolition of ‘poor quality housing’ have re-surfaced, and these have been used in the past to justify forced resettlement (Manzo 2011). This is evidently a problem as it disrupts crucial social and economic networks – moving people away from jobs, friends and family, and recreation (Dittmar and Kelbaugh 2018). It is also crucial to recognise that, while it may be framed as helping the Roma community, the actual beneficiaries are large investors and councils seeking to make money through large investment projects, rather than those living in inadequate housing. Gentrification does not get rid of the problems faced by working class and marginalised communities, it simply relocates these problems out of central locations, further isolating these groups and perpetuating inequality (Harvey 2003). It is far more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable to improve housing which has already been built, than it is to demolish and replace it with more expensive, homogenous property (Dittmar and Kelbaugh 2018). Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the community has a right to stay put, which is where Community Land Trusts can help (Flint 2012).

Option 1 – Community Land Trusts Explained.

Community Land Trusts emerged as part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s in response to rising housing prices which disproportionately impacted Black Americans. They aim to help those marginalised by socioeconomic hardship live more affordable and dignified lives (Pialucha and Audrain 2020). While they were originally founded in rural areas, most CLTs today emerged post-1990’s and exist in urban locations.

CLTs function by buying land through a blanket mortgage, which is managed by a non-profit corporation and is often subsidised by low interest on government loans. Each member of the CLT owns a share of the non-profit corporation that owns the land and are entitled to sell this on, if they so wish (Brady et al. 2018). This means that instead of fighting individually for land rights, the community is able to pool together and make tenure accessible to everyone who wants it. This, in turn, reduces the rate of foreclosure and eviction, which are acute concerns in Polígono Sur and all the more so following the financial damage inflicted by Covid-19 (Piemontese 2016).

There are many easily accessible handbooks on CLT implementation which can inform and guide community discussions. While implementation is ultimately dependant on individual state housing regulations, they largely follow a similar process which involves: engaging the community and key supporting actors, establishing a purpose (e.g. maintaining affordability, or developing the community), contacting advisors with regards to law and financing, securing support from authorities for the CLT, creating and formalising the legalities, organising a small administrative team, and coming up with a development plan for the area. For further information, please refer to the handbook attached at the end of this document.

The University of Cordoba has set up ‘El Laboratorio Jurídico sobre Desahucios’ (The Legal Laboratory on Evictions) which aims to research issues around dispossession and eviction. They have collaborated with trained legal professionals to look into the way CLTs can be legally established in Spain and have presented a new legal framework to the Andalusian Assembly. There has been a lot of interest in CLTs throughout Europe, and Spain is set to follow the example of other countries in adopting these laws (Pialucha and Audrain 2020). Therefore, it could be very beneficial for the community to establish links with the working group, in order to secure legal advice and guidance on the process of setting up a land trust. As none currently exist in Andalusia, this could be an excellent opportunity for the University to pilot the scheme, and there is likely to be interest on the part of the working group. There is also the option of trialling this with a single building, or small plot, to establish its efficacy before implementing it more widely, given the number of unoccupied properties in the area (Miranda et al. 2019).

CLT Strengths.

CLTs promote urban cohesion and diversification of neighbourhoods by making housing more affordable (Ring 2019). They also promote permanence of residents by maintaining costs at a low and stable level, therefore reducing the risk of eviction and relocation. As such, they are more socially and economically sustainable than other options. The same can be said for environmental sustainability, as demolition and construction can be greatly reduced. CLTs are also recommended for their ability to protect wealth for future generations by reducing the impact of market pressures on property value (Brady, Baiocchi and Carson 2018). Finally, they are hailed for promoting democratic decision-making which places the community’s needs centre stage and gives all members a platform to voice their concerns (Pialucha and Audrain 2020).

CLT Limitations.

CLTs are time-consuming to set up and require outside assistance in the way of legal and financial advisors. They also require an initial investment and substantial community support, given their voluntary nature, and this cannot be guaranteed (Brady, Baiocchi and Carson 2018). Further inquiry will be necessary to establish whether these exist at sufficient levels within the community. The implementation of CLTs in Spain also depends on legislative change at this point. Although the forecast for this looks promising, and collaboration with the University of Cordoba may speed this process up, it is not guaranteed. Finally, the same democratic principles which make it such a promising solution have implications for the day-to-day management of CLTs. These include a collective responsibility to maintain property and the potential for conflict in decision-making.

6. Challenge 2 – Improving quality of housing.

Another one of the challenges set out by the community was inadequate housing. This included poor sewage and sanitation infrastructure, abandoned and deteriorating buildings, lack of access to water in some of the higher-level flats, and poor access to buildings for elderly and disabled members of the community (Miranda et al. 2019). While the local council has begun to take a micro-level approach to improving housing (Laparra and Macías 2009)– which refers to small, incremental repairs rather than big renovation schemes – the roll out of these measures has been slow and has been further impacted by Covid-19 and economic pressures following the pandemic. Therefore, there is a very real need within the community for small-scale, short-term interventions to improve housing quality (Trehan 2009). At the moment, these interventions are not being realised at a fast enough rate, and there is a real danger that further deterioration of properties will increase the likelihood of relocation and demolition.

Option 2 – Expanding Mutual Aid Networks.

Mutual Aid Networks are based on the idea of identifying skills, services and goods that are available in the community and matching them with the people who need them (Dittmar and Kelbaugh 2018). This reflects the Asset Based approach set out earlier in this report. These networks tend to emerge in times of crisis, but as Professor Philip Alston – United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights – reported in the Winter of 2020, prior to the pandemic, the community in Polígono Sur already faces crisis conditions with regards to housing. Therefore, seeking to expand and develop networks that are doing crucial work at this very moment is a measure that is both realistic in scope and justified.

Mutual Aid Networks have appeared increasingly throughout the pandemic but were already understood to be a feature of the Roma community (Piemontese 2016). While confused by some as charity, in practice, Mutual Aid Networks are organised more along lines of solidarity. This is significant because solidarity is a great strength among the Roma community, and is something which can be easily mobilised (Lagunas Arias 2010). Once networks have been identified, there is potential for them to become more organised, to find other groups doing similar work nearby, and to extend their capacity for skill sharing and resource matching (provisionaluniversity 2013). While this may be one of the fastest and most affordable ways of enacting change, it is worth noting that some of the challenges – such as improving sewage infrastructure – are beyond the realms of what the community can do for itself. Repairs on a smaller scale, such as the building of ramps for wheelchair accessibility, or fixing water pressure, may be an appropriate place to start mobilising change. It is also important to bear in mind that the Mutual Aid Networks are not supposed to replace council repairs but are meant to complement them in order to improve the living conditions of the residents of Polígono Sur sooner, rather than later (Alston 2020).

Mutual Aid Network Strengths.

Mutual aid networks emerge organically to meet people’s needs and already exist in the community. They can be organised using fairly accessible materials. Many of those which emerged over the pandemic began as spreadsheets using data collated from social media. These informal channels can be identified by the community and used to gauge interest and collect information. Informality itself can be classed as an asset in that it reduces bureaucracy and allows change to happen at a far faster pace. Therefore, the focus of expanding mutual aid networks should be on building capacity, rather than on formalising for the sake of assimilating with state aid (Talen 2019). The philosophy of neighbourly support also complements the largely Evangelical Christian background of this community, while the self-help angle reflects existing mechanisms and strengths in this community, such as innovation, creativity and a do-it-yourself initiative (Danenberg and Haas 2018).

Mutual Aid Network Limitations.

The voluntary nature of mutual aid groups means that there may be challenges in the way of staffing and capacity to carry out work (Weissmann 1960). However, it may be beneficial to unemployed members of the community to gain experience and learn trades through such networks. Skill sharing workshops, organised through these networks, could help educate individuals on various topics, from practical labour to measures to take when faced with eviction (Martinez 2019).

There are also limitations in the way of technical expertise and funding (Weissmann 1960). However, these networks have the potential to bring people together in order to organise and further explore the resources that exist within the community, which is a valuable starting point.

Option 3 – Collaboration with Existing Movements.

The final suggestion in this report relates to collaboration with other groups in similar socioeconomic positions. Spanish civil society has been at the forefront of the global movement for housing equity following the 2008 financial crash, which left many homeless and in precarious conditions. The Indignados Anti-Eviction Assembly emerged as a grass-roots response to a lack of social security and aimed to empower people to resist eviction (Ramos 2013). Their actions include passive resistance, physically impeding eviction, negotiation with banks and collective occupation of buildings (Piemontese 2016). Their primary form of organising is through workshops, which help educate and equip citizens on their options. They justify their actions through politicisation, indicating that the state has neglected them and left them with no other options but to resist. The movement is fundamentally illegal, but it forms a comprehensive and collective social security network across the country (Piemontese 2016).

Collaboration Limitations

While this movement is in theory open to everyone, there have been limiting factors which have made it more difficult for the Roma community to become involved. The institutional discrimination against the community has left them with relatively fewer financial resources to offer the movement than other groups (Piemontese 2016). Negative attitudes towards the community and language barriers also limit involvement. Stigmatization of the Roma community also tends to worsen during times of austerity, which has been noted in attitudes within the Indignados movement (Maestri 2014).

Collaboration Strengths

However, there is huge potential for new solidarities to be formed, especially when collaboration is focused on socio-economic position in society, rather than ethnicity (Maestri 2014). A focus on housing is also evidenced to unite people more effectively than a focus on broader human rights. The measures used by the Indignados movement reflect social security measures already used by the Roma community in the face of state neglect, such as squatting and occupation of buildings (Trehan 2009). Therefore, cooperating and aligning efforts with the movement may help to legitimize these measures in the eyes of the state. It may also be very beneficial in reverting ideas of personal shame and responsibility by highlighting the role that the state and damaging housing policies have had in contributing to the rise in homelessness and dispossession among the community, which in turn should help shift negative perceptions of the community at a broader scale (Piemontese 2016).

7. Concluding remarks.

While the measures set out above are in no way comprehensive, I hope that they serve to further discussions around potential ways forward. A combination of small-scale, incremental measures, fostered by Mutual Aid Networks, alongside broader political and organisational changes in the way the land is managed, have the potential to address the crisis in both an immediate and a long-term sense, ensuring a continued right to housing and to staying put, while also improving the condition of housing. However, it is once again crucial to note that the housing crisis in Polígono Sur is a highly complex situation best understood by members of the community, and the measures undertaken should ultimately be settled on by you.

While implementation of these measures is not covered in this report, the attached sources should help provide documents that expand on the proposals set out here, give more practical guidance on enacting these changes, and provide links to the organisations mentioned above.

8. Further reading for the community.

Asset Based Community Development:

https://www.nurturedevelopment.org/asset-based-community-development/

Community Land Trust Handbooks:

http://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/what-is-a-clt/clt-handbook

https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/shicc-sustainable-housing-for-inclusive-and-cohesive-cities/resources/financial-guide-tools-to-boost-clt-and-ofs-financing-in-europe/

Fundación Secretariado Gitano:

https://www.gitanos.org/

El Laboratorio Jurídico sobre Desahucios (University of Cordoba): http://www.uco.es/laboratoriojuridico/proyecto/

Plataforma Khetane:

https://plataformakhetane.org

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