Social innovation in housing

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Social innovation in housingDarinka CzischkeGuest ResearcherDepartment of Real Estate and Housing Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) The Netherlands

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Acknowledgements• David Butler Grant 2012, Chartered Institute of

Housing & Ocean Media Group• Jill Allcoat, Gavin Smart (CIH)• Prof Vincent Gruis, TU Delft• Prof David Mullins, University of Birmingham


Background• Social innovation revisited in light of 2000’s innovation

paradigm • Definitions: OECD/LEED, Stanford Social Innovation Review,

NESTA, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, SIX/Young Foundation, Howaldt and Schwarz…

• “New ideas –products, services and models- that simultaneously meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations” (Mulgan et al., 2007; BEPA 2010)

• Housing under-researched


Social innovation: process and outcomes


Levels of analysis

1. Social needs of vulnerable groups 2. Challenges of society as a whole3. Systemic reforms of societal configurations


Aims

1. Gather housing practitioners’ perceptions on the meaning and usefulness of social innovation in housing

2. Identify concrete examples in Europe of social innovation in housing

3. Identify barriers and enablers to implement social innovation in housing


Methods• Scoping interviews with key informants• Literature review on social innovation (in housing)• Questionnaire with housing practitioners (selected EU

countries)


Findings


Key elements that define SI


SI examples: common elements

• User involvement• User perspective • Cross-sector collaboration • Multidimensional approach • Streamlining • User empowerment


Case studies: Main fields where SI elements were found

• Demographic change• EU networks• Rationalising community investment• New ways to help vulnerable groups (social

experimentation)


Barriers – key informants• Resistance to change • Excessive regulation • Lack of time (long term view)• Lack of government commitment • Political (counter)pressures • Lack of knowledge and information


Barriers - practitioners


Enablers – key informants• Openness to experimentation • Opportunities for exchange and cross-learning • Cultural factors • Residents’ participation • Innovative leaders


Enablers - practitioners


Conclusions• Nothing really “new”, but…• Conceptualisation as “social innovation”

potentially leading to wider diffusion and development

• Concept resonates amongst practitioners• Overall pragmatism rather than new paradigm• Role for housing professionals? Leaders or

facilitators?

Social innovation in housing

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