The Veneto Region has allocated €50 million through the Mid-Term Review of the ERDF Regional Programme 2021–2027 to address housing affordability challenges affecting families, workers and local communities.
The initiative represents one of the first regional applications of the new European framework supporting affordable and sustainable housing. By mobilising public assets and enabling innovative social housing projects, the programme seeks to increase the availability of affordable rental housing for households that are unable to access either public housing schemes or the private housing market.
Special attention is devoted to healthcare and social care professionals employed by the Regional Health Service and public welfare institutions, recognising housing accessibility as a key factor for territorial attractiveness, social cohesion and the quality of essential public services.
VENETO AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE: SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Official Name of Signatory
Delegation
Europe
Website of the Signatory
Name of the person presenting the Good Practice
Paola Roma
Position/Job Title of person presenting the Good Practice
Regional Minister for Social Services, Family, Ageing, Sports and Housing policies
Aim of the Good Practice
To enhance access to affordable and sustainable housing for families and essential workers through the strategic deployment of European Cohesion Policy resources, while promoting social inclusion, affordable rental opportunities and the regeneration of underutilised public assets. By integrating housing affordability, urban regeneration and workforce support, the initiative strengthens community resilience, improves territorial attractiveness and helps make the Right to Stay a tangible and sustainable reality for current and future generations. DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE The Veneto Region has earmarked €50 million through the reprogramming of European Cohesion Policy funds, including €25 million dedicated to Housing measures and €25 million for complementary territorial regeneration actions. The initiative supports the renovation, recovery and conversion of existing public buildings into affordable housing units. Municipalities, ATER housing agencies, ULSS healthcare authorities, IPAB welfare institutions and other public entities may directly develop projects using their available assets. The programme removes previous implementation constraints applicable to social housing projects financed through regional legislation, allowing a more effective and rapid response to local housing needs. The initiative contributes to three strategic regional objectives: • improving access to affordable housing; • supporting the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals; • regenerating underutilised public real estate assets.
Target Group of the Good Practice
Family Unit, Parents, Children & Youth, Women, Other: Intermediate housing needs: particularly relevant for attracting and retaining key workers in territories affected by demographic and service-provision challenges. • Middle-income families facing housing affordability challenges; • Healthcare professionals and social care workers; • Young households and key workers; • Citizens excluded from both social housing and the private rental market
Annual Monitoring Report
2026
Implementation period
2026–2029
Consistency over time
The initiative is embedded within the Veneto Region's long-term housing and social inclusion strategy and is supported by the 2021–2027 European Cohesion Policy framework. Its sustainability is ensured through the reuse of public assets, the involvement of local authorities and public agencies, and the integration of housing policies with healthcare, welfare and territorial development objectives. The programme addresses structural demographic and labour market challenges, particularly the growing difficulty faced by families and essential workers in accessing affordable housing. By creating a scalable model based on public-private cooperation and the regeneration of existing assets, the initiative is designed to generate lasting social and territorial benefits beyond the current programming period. The good practice will be evaluated through a combination of output and outcome indicators monitored at regional level.
Evaluation of the Good Practice
Key indicators will include: • Number of affordable housing units created, renovated or made available; • Number of families benefiting from affordable rental schemes; • Number of healthcare and social care professionals supported through housing measures; • Amount of public assets regenerated and reused for housing purposes; • Occupancy rates and long-term sustainability of the housing projects. The evaluation will also assess the contribution of the initiative to social inclusion, territorial attractiveness and workforce retention, particularly within the healthcare sector. Regular monitoring will be carried out through the governance mechanisms of the ERDF 2021–2027 Programme and regional housing policies. EXPECTED IMPACT • Increased supply of affordable housing; • Greater housing opportunities for families and workers; • Improved territorial attractiveness for healthcare personnel; • Enhanced social inclusion and community well-being; • Efficient reuse of public assets through sustainable urban regeneration.
Key stakeholders and partnerships
Governments (national, regional, local), Public administration, Social protection system, Business (employers), Service sector (Educational and childcare institutions), Healthcare providers, Public agencies, NGOs
Future Goal 1
1. Expand affordable housing opportunities throughout the Veneto Region.