“The best housing policy is one that enables people to live where economic opportunities exist,” Filip Endal, Deputy Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, said during the panel discussion titled “Environmentally Sustainable and Resilient Human Settlements” held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
“For decades, people lived close to where they worked. Housing, jobs, and infrastructure were aligned with one another. However, after deindustrialization, many people moved from smaller regions to large cities, especially Prague. Housing supply could not keep up with this growth.
As a result, housing prices in Prague have nearly tripled over the past decade, while rents have approximately doubled. This is not only a social problem. The situation reduces labor mobility and weakens economic competitiveness. So which interventions are effective? First, housing supply must be increased in places where demand already exists. No housing policy can succeed without construction.
Second, housing policy must be linked to economic policy.
Housing should be built where jobs, transport, industrial facilities, and public services are located. Third, housing investment should be treated as an investment in economic growth.
One euro invested in construction can generate up to three euros in economic activity while also creating new jobs. Housing construction can become one of the key driving forces of local economies.
Fourth, public and private financing should be used together. Public resources should not replace private investment, but rather attract it. And finally, the role of cities and municipalities must be expanded. Without local planning, housing projects simply do not happen,” Filip Endal emphasized.
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