Work

Everyone has the right to adequate, safe and affordable housing. This principle is grounded in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), in which the ratifying states undertake to ensure the realisation of this right. Across the EU, however, the housing shortage is worsening rapidly, driven by property speculation, vacancy, short-term rentals, a renovation backlog and rising construction costs.

In response, the European Citizens’ Initiative “Right to Housing! Now and Forever” puts forward a catalogue of measures designed to hold the European Commission to account: binding rules for all EU member states are intended to ensure that the pursuit of profit holds less sway and that, instead, security of tenure and permanent affordability are guaranteed, vacancy is eliminated and unused commercial space is sustainably converted into housing.

One of the initiators of “Right to Housing! Now and Forever” is the non-profit organisation HouseEurope!, which brings together people from across the construction value chain to change the way we build today. At the heart of its work lies the question: “How can we build without people and the planet paying the price?”

Arno Brandlhuber is a co-founder of HouseEurope! and a member of its core team. He regards this work as part of his architectural oeuvre.