HOUSING FORUM 2019

SPEAKERS

Follow Your Passion – Parallel Sessions

Follow your passion and opt for one of the two parallel sessions at Housing Forum 2019:

WORKSHOP 1:

IMPROVING ACCESS TO SOCIAL HOUSING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATION

Romania has the lowest social housing stocks in the EU, leaving vulnerable groups at risk of further social marginalization, especially if we take into consideration that more than 60,000 families live in informal settlements at the outskirts of villages and towns. In addition to the low social housing stock (barely reaching 2% out of the total housing stock), the current situation is rendered difficult by the legal provisions currently in place as regards the social housing sector. As per recent data, 10 % of the Romanians with the lowest incomes earn a maximum income per year of EUR 1,189, which equates to living on 3.25 euros per day. This particular segment is the most vulnerable of the entire population, and the least likely to be able to benefit from improved access to social housing. Furthermore, the allocation criteria and practices as regards social houses are not streamlined and leave significant room for discretion of local authorities in deciding the beneficiaries.

WORKSHOP 2:

INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION IN NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES: CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES

Deprived areas and communities are the most vulnerable to the consequences of natural disasters and also the least prepared to face or mitigate the impact of such hazards upon their dwellings. In most cases of deprived communities, the challenges they face are multiple: economic difficulties, lack of access to decent housing (including to in – house sanitation utilities), lack of basic information about hazards likely to occur in their immediate proximity. They also take most time to recover after a major natural disaster, be it flood, earthquake, land slide or fire. The intervention of national specialized authorities can also be maximized and supported through the rapid intervention of local communities at critical times before, during or after a hazard occurs, if programmes are set in place to better educate vulnerable communities on prevention practices and procedures they should follow. Rapid community interventions can help save lives and houses if a critical mass of hazard preparedness is ensured at local level. The potential held by the Emergency Volunteering Mechanism for Community Preparedness can also be maximized through its replication at local level.

About Housing Forum 2019 – Talks that build

Housing Forum: Talks that Build is an international event on housing issues which brings together experts working in the sector – architects, urban planners, sociologists, members of the civil society and business, representatives of local and central public authorities. The event sets to create the framework for a public debate aiming to identify a set of best practices, lessons learnt and solutions for the vulnerable population facing inadequate housing conditions as well as in terms of social housing.

AGENDA

11 November 2019

Halele Carol, Main Hall, 1 Dr. Constantin Istrati Street

9:00- 9:30 – Participant Registrationr

9:30 – 11:15 – Opening Session. Challenging Housing Policy – making in Romania

Welcome Speech
Roberto Pătrășcoiu, PhD, National Director, Habitat for Humanity Romania

Diana – Loreta Păun, PhD, State Adviser, Public Health Department, Presidential Administration of Romania

Iulian Mangalagiu, General Director, Wienerberger Romania

Western European Perspectives on Affordable and Social Housing
Grzegorz Gajda, Senior Urban Specialist, EIB

Andres Jaadla, Member, European Committee of Regions, Head of Board, Estonian Union of Cooperative Housing Associations, Member of Board, Housing Europe

Opportunities for Consolidating Disaster Resilience in the Urban Context

Zuzana Stanton – Geddes, Disaster Risk Management specialist, World Bank

Eng. Radu Văcăreanu, Professor, Tehnical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, Vice-president of European Association for Earthquake Engineering

Q & A session

12:15 – 13:15 Lunch

13:15 – 14:45 Follow Your Passion – Parallel Sessions (moderated)

WORKSHOP 1. Reviewing social housing legislation in Romania: Facilitating access to social housing for vulnerable population (Co-organizer: MKBT), (Main Hall)

Panelists:

  • Bogdan Suditu, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Bucharest, MKBT
  • Adrian Dohotaru, Independent deputy, Romanian Chamber of Deputies
  • Petre Manole, PSD Deputy, Romanian Chamber of Deputies
  • Mihaela Ungureanu, Head of Unit, Child Protection and Social Assistance, Local Council, district no. 3
  • Eugen Pănescu, Architect, Founding Partner, Planwerk, Cluj – Napoca
  • Moderator: Marina Neagu, Co-founder and partner, MKBT

WORKSHOP 2. Prevention and intervention in natural disasters and the role of communities: Challenges and best practices (Wolf Platform)

Panelists:

  • Virginia Mărăcine, PhD, Professor, Academy of Economic Studies
  • Adrian Olteanu, Volunteer Coordinator, SMURD Foundation
  • Edmond Niculușcă, Director general, ARCEN
  • Moderator: Gabi Pascal, COO, Habitat for Humanity Romania

14:45- 15:15 Closing session (Presentation of Conclusions of parallel workshops))

15:15 – 15:30 Final Remarks: Agnes Nicolescu, Project Manager – Awareness Raising and Advocacy, Habitat for Humanity Romania

Event made possible with the help of:

Partner: