Special Issue "Efficiency, Fairness and Sustainability in Social Housing Policy and Projects"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Geography and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Grazia Napoli
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, University of Palermo. Viale delle Scienze Edificio 14, Palermo, Italy
Interests: housing affordability; social housing; real estate market; multiple criteria decision aid; urban and real estate economics; economic evaluation of real estate investment projects; econometric models; energy retrofitting projects; urban regeneration; sustainability; environmental economics
Prof. Dr. Maria Rosa Trovato
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: environmental economics; real estate economics; urban economics; urban and land management; urban and land sustainability; cultural resources valuation; Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA); Datamining; GIS
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Affordable housing for low-income households is still a serious social problem, and social housing can support the achievement of the objectives of economic feasibility, fairness, and social sustainability.

Social housing is a complex topic that is interrelated with several fields of study—politics, ethics, economics, environment, architecture, and technology. In other words, social policy, at a national and local level, as well as public and private resources, and innovative tax and credit systems, are all necessary to promote social housing.

Social housing also implies social and urban transformations, and is, consequently, connected to urban planning, urban regeneration projects, real estate market dynamics, and cooperation between public and private stakeholders. In the most advanced proposals, social housing may also include environmental sustainability and technological innovation (energy savings, environmentally friendly materials, etc.), and suggest new models of housing units (co-habitation and the sharing of common spaces).

Furthermore, the decision-making process related to SH policies and projects has to be supported by the evaluation of economic feasibility and assessments on social and environmental sustainability.

This Special Issue of Sustainability offers a platform where all different topics may be presented to recompose the multi-faceted subject within a unified framework.

Prof. Grazia Napoli
Prof. Maria Rosa Trovato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • housing policy
  • housing economics
  • housing finance
  • social housing stock
  • real estate market
  • economic evaluation of investments
  • public private partnership
  • multiple criteria decision aid
  • subsidies, incentives and benefits
  • affordable housing and housing affordability
  • social cohesion and management
  • fairness and right to the city
  • gentrification
  • urban regeneration
  • social housing investment facility
  • income threshold
  • energy retrofit in social housing
  • sustainable neighbourhoods
  • technological innovation
  • rent and user costs
  • credit conditions and housing price ratio

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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Article
Evaluating Outwards Regeneration Effects (OREs) in Neighborhood-Based Projects: A Reversal of Perspective and the Proposal for a New Tool
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10559; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410559 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 656
Abstract
This paper proposes a reversal of perspective in the evaluation of Regeneration projects. Until now, attention has been mainly focused on project “internal effectiveness”, in reference to the environment and life quality improvement of the areas directly affected by the interventions. The effects [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a reversal of perspective in the evaluation of Regeneration projects. Until now, attention has been mainly focused on project “internal effectiveness”, in reference to the environment and life quality improvement of the areas directly affected by the interventions. The effects induced in the wider urban context are rarely sufficiently analyzed. This aspect instead opens an important field of investigation, useful for a broader assessment of regeneration initiatives, especially with regards to Public Housing Neighborhoods where the long-term project success also depends on the positive effects it generates in the surroundings. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop a conceptualization of “Outwards Regeneration Effects” (OREs), based on an extensive literature review, and to make it operational through a conceptual framework for the qualitative analysis. The results of this study, on the one hand, highlight several critical issues raised by the interventions implemented so far, and, on the other hand, provide a more effective assessment framework, useful in the evaluation of future projects. Further developments of such an approach could lead to the development of operational evaluation models, combining both qualitative and quantitative indicators, starting from the implementation of the proposed analytic framework. Full article
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Article
Addressing Social Sustainability in Urban Regeneration Processes. An Application of the Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7579; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187579 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 863
Abstract
The concept of sustainability is widely seen as fundamental to set up urban and territorial transformations. Sustainable development is a multidimensional and multi-perspective process that deals with the environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with the aim to find a balance among these. Despite [...] Read more.
The concept of sustainability is widely seen as fundamental to set up urban and territorial transformations. Sustainable development is a multidimensional and multi-perspective process that deals with the environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with the aim to find a balance among these. Despite this growing attention to sustainability the social perspective has been the less explored of these dimensions and only recently it is receiving consideration due the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim at creating sustainable and inclusive cities and communities. In the SDGs, specific attention is focused on the improvement of the quality of life of inhabitants through specific actions dedicated to the valorization of cultural resources, to the protection of the environment, and also to promote the involvement of the local communities in setting policies and programs. The final objective is defining projects based on the social needs shared by the communities. This paper aims at exploring the social sustainability related to urban regeneration processes with particular attention to social cohesion and community engagement. Six different urban regeneration strategies, developed for the regeneration of an urban area located in Northern Italy and based on social housing interventions, have been evaluated in accordance with their social impacts on the stakeholders involved. The paper proposes a multi-methodological approach based on the combination of the stakeholder analysis with the NAIADE (Novel Approach to Imprecise Assessment and Decision Environments) methodology, a particular type of Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation. The stakeholder analysis has been applied to identify the actors to involve in the evaluation, whereas the NAIADE methodology has been implemented for the selection of the most preferable strategy. This method allowed the assessment of the different strategies through the comparison and the mediation between the technical and the social rankings, thus considering the stakeholder preferences in the final evaluation. The final result is coherent with the initial purpose and it demonstrates that the inclusion of the stakeholder is fundamental for the achievement of a consensus solution. Full article
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Article
Infrastructures and Sustainability: An Estimation Model for a New Highway Near Genoa
Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 5051; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125051 - 20 Jun 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 676
Abstract
The economic development of a territory is strongly correlated to its level of infrastructure (railway, roads, etc.); the complexity of this type of works requires careful planning and design that cannot be separated from the assessment of the impacts generated on citizenship affected [...] Read more.
The economic development of a territory is strongly correlated to its level of infrastructure (railway, roads, etc.); the complexity of this type of works requires careful planning and design that cannot be separated from the assessment of the impacts generated on citizenship affected by the new infrastructures. This study deals with the instrument defined by the Liguria Region for the implementation of infrastructures through the instruments called “Programmi Regionali di Intervento Strategico—P.R.I.S.” (Regional Strategic Intervention Programs) established by the Regional Law n. 39/2007. The aim of the P.R.I.S. is to guarantee the social protection of citizens that reside (as owners or tenants) or carry out economic activities in real estate units incompatible with the construction of the infrastructure, according to the main Italian law (Presidential Decree n. 327/2001) about the expropriation of private real estate for the construction of public works. In particular, the construction of a new link of the A7-A10-A12 motorway sections near the city of Genoa (called “Gronda”) is considered. The new infrastructure involves the expropriation of about 100 residential units and the relocation of about 50 production activities; the related P.R.I.S. defines the conditions that allow social cohesion through the recognition of indemnities for the expropriation of the real estate properties and the compensation of other expenses that the residents have to pay for their relocation. The valuation of the indemnities is developed through a multi-parameter model applicable for the estimation of real estate units (residential and productive) at a large-scale (mass appraisal); it is derived from the Market Comparison Approach and considers the most meaningful real estate characteristics. The aim is to develop a mass appraisal estimation model applicable in an easy way on real estate units with different destinations use. The model can be applied for the estimation of ordinary and special indemnities to be recognized for owners and tenants affected by the expropriation of their real estate units for the construction of public projects. Full article
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Article
Affordable Housing vs. Urban Land Rent in Widespread Settlement Areas
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3129; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083129 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 924
Abstract
Social housing constitutes a partial response to the demand for affordable housing. In Europe, there are different forms of social housing, which are distinguishable based on whether they employ a universal or residual approach. The latter is employed by Italian initiatives for social [...] Read more.
Social housing constitutes a partial response to the demand for affordable housing. In Europe, there are different forms of social housing, which are distinguishable based on whether they employ a universal or residual approach. The latter is employed by Italian initiatives for social residential construction, the financial instrument of which is the Investment Fund for Housing, a closed-end fund managed by CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti) Investment, which provides public–private partnerships. The main obstacle to the supply of low-cost houses is the high cost of building areas or, in other words, the high urban land rent. The value of building areas is particularly high in urban areas and in widespread settlement areas, for instance, in Northeastern Italy. The main objective of this paper is to identify the trade-off between urban land rent and housing affordability in a social housing intervention in Pordenone (Northeastern Italy). Four different scenarios are developed, the variables of which are: Cost of the area (urban rent), cost of construction works (quality of the buildings), and household income distribution. The results show that achieving the economic and social objectives of a social housing investment simultaneously is not possible in any of the scenarios evaluated. To allow the social groups most in need to access affordable housing would require a reduction of approximately 30% of the estimated cost of a building area. Full article
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Article
Social Housing: An Appraisal Model of the Economic Benefits in Urban Regeneration Programs
Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020609 - 14 Jan 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 897
Abstract
The decision-making process relating to Social Housing (SH) policies and projects involves social and urban transformations and is consequently linked to urban planning, urban regeneration projects, the dynamics of the real estate market and cooperation between public and private developers. Furthermore, this decision-making [...] Read more.
The decision-making process relating to Social Housing (SH) policies and projects involves social and urban transformations and is consequently linked to urban planning, urban regeneration projects, the dynamics of the real estate market and cooperation between public and private developers. Furthermore, this decision-making process must be supported by assessments relating to economic feasibility and assessments on social and environmental sustainability. The paper illustrates a decision support evaluation model for the implementation of integrated urban redevelopment programs related to Social Housing interventions to be implemented in PPP. The model is based on the search for an economic balance between the interests of the parties involved, with the aim of maximizing the share of housing in SH by minimizing the public contribution quota. The model was developed on a degraded settlement of Public Residential Construction, the subject of a wider urban regeneration program in the Municipality of Reggio Calabria (Italy). Considering the financial feasibility constraint for the developer and the conditions of the local real estate market, with the risk of the investment attached to it, the model makes it possible to verify the economic sustainability and the financial feasibility of the interventions in SH through the estimation of: (i) The profit of the developer/investor; (ii) the trade-in value to be paid to the developer against the investment; (iii) the maximum share of SH to be carried out in development. The research and the results obtained highlight the utility of the model and the ease of use in the programming phase, in relation to urban regeneration programs that involve interventions in SH. Full article

Review

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Review
Can Malaysia’s National Affordable Housing Policy Guarantee Housing Affordability of Low-Income Households?
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8841; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168841 - 07 Aug 2021
Viewed by 291
Abstract
Housing affordability is a long-held issue in Malaysia, and housing policies have been implemented for low-income households over the years. However, there is a contradiction that housing affordability of low-income households has not been met, while the bulk of affordable housing is still [...] Read more.
Housing affordability is a long-held issue in Malaysia, and housing policies have been implemented for low-income households over the years. However, there is a contradiction that housing affordability of low-income households has not been met, while the bulk of affordable housing is still vacant. In 2019, Malaysia enacted the National Affordable Housing Policy (DRMM) which was intended to improve housing affordability for low-income groups. This paper aims to answer why Malaysia’s long-term implementation of affordable housing policies cannot guarantee housing affordability, and whether the DRMM can effectively improve housing affordability as expected, by comparing the empirical factors of housing affordability. A literature review and a comparative analysis are adopted in the research. The paper concludes that low household income, high land price, construction cost and compliance cost, mismatch of supply and demand in terms of quantity, the instability of the national economy, low home financing ability, and incomprehensive housing planning have caused low housing affordability of low-income groups in Malaysia. The DRMM as anticipated can improve housing affordability by supplying affordable housing more precisely, lowering housing costs, and improving home financing ability. However, the exclusion of household income and economic factors may cause the ineffectiveness of the DRMM in improving housing affordability for low-income households. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Planned Paper 1

Infrastructures and sustainability: the P.R.I.S. of Liguria Region

Paolo Rosasco 1*, Leopoldo Sdino 2

1   University of Genoa; [email protected]

2   Polytechnic of Milan; [email protected]

*   Correspondence: [email protected];

Abstract: The economic development of a territory is strongly correlated to its level of infrastructure (railway, roads, etc.); the complexity of this type of works requires careful planning and design that cannot be separated from the assessment of the impacts generated on citizenship affected by the new infrastructures. This study deals with the instrument defined by the Liguria Region for the implementation of infrastructures through the instruments of “Programmi Regionali di Intervento Strategico - P.R.I.S.” (Regional Strategic Intervention Programs) established by the Regional Law n. 39/2007. The aim of the “P.R.I.S.” is to guarantees the social protection of citizens that reside (as owners or tenants) or that they carry out economic activities in real estate incompatible with the construction of the infrastructure, according to the main Italian law (Presidential Decree n. 327/2001) about the expropriation of private real estate for the construction of public works. In particular, the construction of a new link of the A7-A10-A12 motorway sections near the city of Genoa is considered. The infrastructure involves the expropriation of about 100 residential units and the relocation of about 50 production activities; the related P.R.I.S. defined the conditions that allow social cohesion through the recognition of indemnities for the expropriation of the real estate and the compensation of other expenses that the real estate residents have to pay for their relocation. The valuation of the indemnities is developed through a multi-parameter model applicable for the estimation of real estate (residential and productive) at a large-scale (mass appraisal).

Planned Paper 2

Public Housing in the outskirts of Naples: evaluation approaches in regeneration practices

Fabiana Forte1, Pierfrancesco De Paola2

1 Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via San Lorenzo ad Septimum, 81031 Aversa, Italy

2 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II”, Piazzale Vincenzo Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
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