Societal
Housing
Network
The leading Brussels network of housing and socially driven real estate stakeholders, gathering over 80 members from the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Societal
It refers to the various aspects of individuals’ social lives insofar as they form a society. For SoHoNet, people come first—always and in all aspects of their lives. Our actions are tailored to the context of each project and aim to support the stakeholders involved, while promoting inclusion, social diversity, solidarity, and the autonomy of residents.
Our work derived from the observation that housing is the foundation of social integration and a right recognized by the Belgian Constitution. Nevertheless, all stakeholders agree on a shortage of affordable, decent, and sustainable housing. As a complement to the social housing public supply, SoHoNet supports access to affordable housing through other avenues, including new construction and renovation.
Housing
Network
The diversity and commitment of the actors that can be mobilized within our network represent significant added value in achieving SoHoNet’s objectives. Our organization relies on a productive hybridization of reciprocal experiences from the non-profit and private sectors, on-the-ground realities, academic knowledge, new forms of housing, and alternative economic models. All of this aims to contribute in a concrete way to the production of housing with a social purpose in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Needs
In Brussels, the cost of accessing housing—both to rent or own—is the highest in the country. The same applies to the share of housing expenses in a household’s total income. Brussels has ahigh proportion of tenants, 61%, of whom 6% live in social housing. 54,000 Brussels households, representing 8% of all households, are registered on the waiting list to access social housing dwellings, a sector that mobilizes three quarters of the resources allocated by the Region to its overall housing policy.
A response
In light of these findings, SoHoNet is convinced that the production of social housing units alone is not sufficient. A cross-cutting approach, mobilizing all public, private, and non-profit actors, is essential to make a meaningful contribution to the production of more affordable housing for vulnerable groups. The term “vulnerable groups” refers to any person who, due to social, economic, and/or health-related precarity, requires supported access to housing, as access to the private market is nearly impossible for them.
Mission
SoHoNet aims to promote, stimulate, and support the design, financing, and development of affordable housing in Brussels, in order to contribute to improved access to decent housing for vulnerable groups.
This objective is achieved through the pooling of values, skills, and knowledge among public, private, and non-profit actors forming the SoHoNet network.
Housing Deal & Social Reno Deal
2017
Foundation
80
Members
45
Organized webinars and housing networking events
2
Innovative solutions
Our members
Representatives from the real estate sector, entrepreneurs, and socially driven investors have joined professionals supporting people in vulnerable situations.
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HO
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SOCIAL
HOUSING
NETWORK
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