The current availability and options for social housing in the countries of the Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership vary, with generally little being available. There is, however, a growing demand to expand these services, especially in countries facing acute challenges to their housing capacity, e.g., due to forced migration. In the most recent Bridge Building (BB) Policy Review event titled ‘Social Housing Policies to Support Access to Adequate and Affordable Housing’, held on 25–26 June 2025 and organized by the European Centre as part of its BB function, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia – social housing was examined in depth. The event featured presentations from national social housing experts working in Bridge Building countries (Armenia and Kosovo), perspectives from those working within the EU (Housing Europe and City of Vienna), as well as an examination of financing opportunities from international funding bodies (European Commission and Council of Europe Development Bank).
The event was attended by over 50 participants with delegations from the relevant Ministries, public authorities, as well as municipalities and some NGOs from Armenia, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. This BB Policy Review thus was among the most well-attended yet. The event highlighted the diversity of social housing in these regions, both in terms of systems currently in place, as well as future ambitions for social housing development. While social housing is not conceived of in the same way across all countries, there was broad consensus on the importance of data-driven policy design and planning, as well as ensuring local expertise and implementation—even when resources and funding come from national or international sources. Important discussions also addressed the role of private partnerships in the funding of social housing, and the regulations needed to ensure housing quality for recipients.
A report on this event is currently being prepared and will be available to download in the coming months.
