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A blog by Anne Kantel, Fraunhofer ISI

Tackling housing inequality has never been more urgent. A combination of global challenges – from economic shifts to sustainability crises – is widening gaps in access to safe, affordable and quality housing. Across Europe, housing costs are soaring, with house price indices rising in most countries. This trend is particularly pronounced in urban areas, where around 75% of Europeans live.[1]

But housing inequality goes beyond affordability. It includes quality issues such as substandard construction, overcrowding and unequal access to basic services. Neighbourhood quality also plays an important role, linked to factors such as public transport, education, healthcare and community amenities such as green spaces, cultural facilities and sports infrastructure.

Housing inequality is therefore not just about whether people have a roof over their heads – it reflects and deepens wider social inequalities. It intersects with race, class, gender and geography, shaping access to education, employment, healthcare and overall quality of life. To address housing inequality effectively, it must be understood in the broader context of social inequality, while recognising its distinct drivers and consequences.

The urgency of the housing crisis is increasingly recognised. The European Commission recently appointed Dan Jørgensen as Commissioner for Energy and Housing and the European Parliament set up a special committee to tackle the housing crisis. These steps signal a collective recognition of the need for systemic solutions. These steps signal a collective recognition of the need for systemic solutions. The HouseInc project contributes to these efforts by conducting empirical research to derive policy measures aimed at increasing access to inclusive, quality and sustainable housing for all people living in Europe.

Defining Housing Inequality: Inclusivity and Quality

To guide its own research and inspire subsequent research, the HouseInc project has developed a framework for understanding and tackling housing inequality, focusing on two core principles: inclusivity and quality housing.

Figure 1: Key concepts of HouseInc’s definition of housing equality

The first principle, inclusivity, ensures that all people, regardless of socio-economic or demographic background, have equal access to housing and is based on the ‘Four As’. [Find a visual summary of the inclusivity model here]

• Availability: Sufficient housing stock to meet demand in a given area.
• Affordability: Housing costs and related services should be in line with household income or wealth to avoid financial strain.
• Accessibility: Housing costs and related services must be physically and socially accessible, taking into account the (lack of) capabilities and resources of households.
• Acceptability: Housing must meet quality standards consistent with cultural norms and individuals’ belief systems.

Without addressing all four pillars, housing systems risk deepening inequalities rather than promoting inclusion.

Figure 2: Conceptualising housing inclusivity

The second principle of quality housing calls for the consideration of minimum housing standards in terms of the basic needs necessary for human dignity, security and well-being. This is a dynamic area in the context of various ongoing crises, such as sustainability challenges, migration patterns and inter-state conflicts. The approach of defining housing inequality through the principle of quality housing is in line with the United Nations’ recognition of housing as a fundamental human right and is reflected in the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). It defines quality housing in terms of three key dimensions:

1. Physical well-being: Safe shelter with adequate protection from weather, access to clean water, sanitation, and reliable energy supplies and services.
2. Social well-being: Housing that supports social relationships, inclusion, and cohesion, often shaped by the infrastructure and demographics of neighbourhoods.
3. Mental well-being: Security, stability, and freedom from discrimination in housing markets, which have direct impact on mental health.

Basic needs vary across cultural and geographical contexts, making housing solutions dynamic and adaptable to local conditions and different groups, which is also particularly relevant in the context of ongoing sustainability challenges. 

Analytical Lenses for Studying Drivers, Manifestations and Impacts of Housing Inequality

Based on the definition outlined above, the HouseInc project proposes to examine housing inequality through three distinct but interrelated analytical lenses to examine the drivers, manifestations and impacts of housing inequality, analysing the drivers and impacts of different urban forms in relation to social and economic structures and functions.

Figure 3: Three analytical lenses of HouseInc research

1. Focal points of analysis: Housing inequality researchers draw insights from a variety of theoretical approaches, such as political economy approaches that emphasise the financialisation of housing, public health research that links housing conditions to physical and mental well-being, climate studies that emphasise environmental hazards for different (urban and rural) populations, and urban geographies. The HouseInc conceptual framework encourages the diversity of these foci of analysis, as they offer different insights into the different manifestations of housing inequality.
2. Geographic scales: Housing inequality is analysed at individual, neighbourhood, regional and national levels, recognising the interconnectedness of these scales.
3. Experiences of vulnerable groups: By focusing on the experiences of vulnerable and marginalised communities, the project aims to develop tailored interventions to address specific drivers and impacts of housing inequality.

To this end, the project builds on the IPCC’s and Adger’s[2] conceptualisation of vulnerability, which is defined in terms of three dimensions:

• Exposure: The degree to which individuals or systems are exposed to environmental or socio-political stressors.
• Sensitivity: The degree to which a system or community is affected by external pressures.
• Adaptive capacity: The ability to adapt and evolve to mitigate these impacts.

Figure 4: Conceptualising vulnerability

This framework helps to both describe and potentially identify vulnerable groups – such as those facing energy poverty, environmental hazards, or housing deprivation – and inform strategies to address their specific needs.

Toward Inclusive Housing Systems

The project’s conceptual lenses emphasise that tackling housing inequality requires systemic solutions that go beyond affordability. By placing inclusivity and quality housing at the heart of its framework, the HouseInc project envisions a world where housing is not just a necessity, but a means to promote dignity, security and well-being for all.

For more detailed information, check the full report -> D2.2 HouseInc Conceptual Framework.

See the graphics developed to go with it.

[1] The European Urban Initiative: https://www.urban-initiative.eu/online-guidance-innovative-actions/introduction-background/context

[2] Adger, W. N. 2006. “Vulnerability.” Global Environmental Change 16(3):268–81. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.02.006.