TOUR OF THE HABITAT WORLD SEEN BY CIVIL SOCIETY

Luxembourg

#Mots-clés : Dernière mise à jour le 7 June 2019

ELEMENTS OF CONTEXT

HISTORY

DEMOGRAPHY

SOCIO-ECONOMICAL CONTEXT

HABITAT

HISTORY OF CITIES – HERITAGE

URBAN HOUSING

RURAL HOUSING

RIGHT TO HOUSING

In Luxembourg, the right to housing is not introduced into the national Constitution. However, some aspects of housing are legally regulated. According to the Article 7 of the Social Welfare Act, the newly formed, regional welfare offices are responsible to provide the most appropriate material support and emergency shelter, and according to Section 8 of the Grand Ducal regulation, to also provide support/social assistance in a coordinated fashion.

Luxembourg has signed the Revised European Social Charter on 11/02/1998 but has not yet ratified it. It has neither signed nor ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints.

Source : FEANTSA, 2012 (1)

FORCED EVICTION

LAND RIGHTS

LAND GRABBING

VULNERABLE GROUPS

  • Homelessness
  • Joungpeople
  • Old people
  • Women

SOME INTERESTING PRACTICES

  • Social Real Estate Agency : The Social Real Estate Agency (AIS in french) is a tool in the fight against social exclusion through housing. The main mission of AIS is the search and to provide housing, adequate and responsive to the composition of the household, to low-income people also suffering from problems related to housing. AIS rented housing for implementing social inclusion projects by housing a maximum of three years. In this context, the AIS works with social offices and social services in the country. In order to provide affordable housing, AIS offers in return for guarantees interesting owners. Contact : WebsiteVideo.

Social and economic aspects

HOUSING MARKET

According to INSEE, in 2007, 71% of Luxembourg households owned their homes (EU average = 65%).

QUALITY OF HOUSING

HOMELESS SITUATION

Until the early 2000s, there was only one shelter for the homeless, can accommodate 15 people (located in Luxembourg City).

Since 1998, there is ASFT Act (Socio-therapeutic and Family Action) which has made changes in the system of agreements renforcçant the right of initiative and responsibility of NGOs and officials giving a supervisory role (and not co-manager as before). This is the notion of “beds” in home night and number of “chairs” (in day care) that determines the budget allocated to the structure.

This is mainly the Ministry of Family, which operates in the area of homelessness. In theory, any homeless person and have a regular income (such as guaranteed minimum income) may apply to the Housing Fund. But there are two problems: the lack of available housing and insufficient staff to handle all requests.

Source: Report on Luxembourg FEANTSA

ROLE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

PUBLIC HOUSING

Definition and situation in 2012

In Luxemburg social housing is low cost housing provided both for rent and for sale to people with low income. Social rental housing represents 2% of the total housing stock in the country.

How does it work ?

Social housing providers are public developers. The most important is the Fonds pour le developpement du logement et l’habitat, commonly referred to as Fonds du Logement (Housing Fund), which manages the largest social rental stock in Luxembourg. The second provider is the Société Nationale des Habitations à Bon Marché (National Affordable Housing Company), a joint-stock company created in 1919, whose shareholders are the State, some municipalities and some public institutions. The third actor is represented by the municipal governments the main towns and cities, which provide building sites and housing for rent as well as for access to ownership.

Households which do not own, use or have a right to occupy a dwelling and whose income is below certain limits determined by law are eligible for social housing.

Source : CECODHAS Report 2012

Cultural aspects – Religious – Symbolic

Environmental aspects

Bibliography & Sitography

  1. FEANTSA Network

MAJOR PROBLEMS BY CIVIL SOCIETY

CLAIMS MAJOR CIVIL SOCIETY

Claims Platform for access to housing for disadvantaged people:

  • Massive construction of public rental housing to low rents by the Housing Fund, the Commons, societies and associations, using as necessary the leasehold.
  • Establishment of small emergency structures (night shelters, day centers) in the various regions of Luxembourg and in particular the common grndes the south.

Meet the specific housing needs of young people (16-25 years), personens physical and mental disabilities or people in particularly difficult sitation (addict – homeless – ex-prisoners). And organizing the management of the housing or social miluex school (public or private).

  • Create short-term accommodation for young people, involving governments, NGOs, youth organizations and youth hostels.
  • Create Social Estate Agents via Angs or real estate agents.

Wunnengshellef claims:

  • State support of development of Social Housing Agencies
  • Establish reception centers for young people from broken – school-business
  • Establishment of small emergency shelters
  • Establish a system of state rental guarantee

CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS

  • FONDS DU LOGEMENT = HOUSING FUND = autonomous public institution under the authority of the government ‘s mission is to build homes for sale or lease , to create land reserves that could be integrated into the perimeters of cities , neighborhoods and create new develop the quality of urban development to extend public rental housing . It promotes the sale of housing by emphyteutic lease. Websitecontact.
  • WUNNENGSHËLLEF = National Network created by Social NGOs , bringing together private associations and state agencies. Their goal is to take over the problem of the shortage of affordable housing , the provision of housing for vulnerable people. These activities are complemented by a psychological and social care of stakeholders through partner organizations. Wunnengshellef target mainly people who are excluded from public assistance measures or groups of people who can not participate under difficult circumstances in society and often run the risk of being excluded . The main targets are: single-parent low-income families , single people living on the minimum wage , young adults leaving institutions , centers or host families in crisis. Website. lcontact.
  • FONDATION POUR L’ACCES AU LOGEMENT = FOUNDATION FOR ACCESS TO HOUSING = Foundation established in 2009 which aims to improve access to housing, in particular by promoting the provision of rental housing through the Social Housing Agencies. Their target audience is low-income households, and more specifically the many single-parent families. Websitecontact.
  • ENNERDAACH = nonprofit organization that offers homeless and people with losing their housing accommodation for a fixed period. The objevtif of the association is to enable users to take control of their lives. In addition to lmise provision of housing , residents benefit from social support to quickly find housing and employment. Contact: email o email.
  • WUNNRAUM FIR STUDENTEN = association to promote access to housing and reduced students and trainees Luxembourg Luxembourg resident while promoting multicultural exchanges is to rent. Places to stay are community centers to promote these recontres. Contact: Website.
  • PLATEFORME POUR L’ACCES AU LOGEMENT DES DEFAVORISES = PLATFORM FOR ACCESS TO HOUSING DISADVANTAGED = 30 associations including housing developers, platform initiative FEANTSA and Wunnengshellef. Its objective is to better understand what already exists in terms of access to housing for disadvantaged people and to make suggestions and recommendations to national and local authorities to facilitate access to housing. Link presentation platform.
  • CARITAS HOME AND SOLIDARITY = nonprofit organization that offers a welcome service and assistance in case of housing difficulties. Among their target audiences are the homeless. Contact: Websiteemail
  • JUGEND-AN-DROGENHELLEF = Foundation which aims to help personens dependent drug users and their families. In this context, one of their actions is to provide supportive housing shape with a post-treatment follow-up, he also runs a temporary shelter. Contact: emailWebsite.