14^th December, 02:00-03:45 PM CET

The rapid arrival of large numbers of newcomers, including the 4.7 million people that have fled Ukraine and sought temporary protection in the EU, has created a range of housing  challenges. With affordable housing already a considerable challenge in many communities, host countries have worked creatively to scale up their capacity to accommodate new arrivals in a variety of ways, including enlarging reception centres, repurposing existing buildings such as gymnasiums, and encouraging private households to host newcomers. Although such diverse short-term initiatives have mushroomed, several problems have emerged, such as matching and vetting hosts, ensuring adequate accommodation standards, minimising the risk of exploitation, and finally ensuring the transition to long-term housing solutions.

These dynamics are taking place in the context of substantial pre-existing housing problems in many EU Member States, particularly in large cities, which often have insufficient (social) housing stock, a lack of affordable private housing, and rising living costs, making the development of mid- to long-term housing solutions difficult. The looming economic crisis and limited resources have already led to rise in innovative solutions, such as collaborative housing, social entrepreneurship, and community involvement.

This webinar looked at different approaches to housing newcomers from Ukraine. What are the specific challenges faced by this group and what is needed to address specific vulnerabilities? What is the potential and what are the limitations of different housing initiatives? How can initiatives catering to the immediate housing needs of new arrivals be embedded in a long-term integration strategy?

The recording is also available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGt6Kjbzkd8&t=3182s