Housing in a key role
Municipal cooperation seeks sustainable and attractive housing solutions in three regions.
Issues related to housing are crucial for rural municipalities striving to maintain their appeal. Residents need to have suitable forms of housing available to meet their needs, and these are also essential to attract newcomers and skilled workforce.
Many municipalities have a need for a housing stock that is better suited to today’s needs. The challenges are the cost of investments in relation to the market value and the availability of financing. At the same time, new uses are needed for vacant public properties.
New solutions are needed for new production, repair projects, and the development of financing models. These challenges are being addressed in collaboration with the municipalities as part of the “New directions in housing at the regional boundaries” project.
A total of 20 municipalities from North Ostrobothnia, North Savo and Central Finland are involved in the project, which operates across regional borders. NIHAK region’s project manager Reetta Nummelin highlights the importance of collaboration.
“Individual municipalities do not have sufficient resources to solve these issues on their own. Wider cooperation brings new perspectives and enables the utilization of experts. Finding solutions is supported when municipalities in a similar situation are involved.”
In the project’s workshops, municipalities’ housing policy strategies are reviewed, funding issues are addressed together with financial sector and housing market experts, and concrete plans are drawn up to improve the comfort of residential areas.
The aim is to create sustainable and economically viable solutions that strengthen the vitality of the regions and make them attractive to new residents. The results of the workshops will be compiled into the Housing Guide, which provides municipalities with tools for development work.
In addition to municipal officials and experts, the workshops also involve local actors, such as educational institutions, businesses, and village associations. One of the pilot sites can be found in Reisjärvi, where the municipality is involved in the development of new housing. The planned site would offer apartments for both permanent housing and short-term needs, for example, for employees of companies.
“The active role of municipalities is crucial in order to promote housing construction and attract new residents. Launching projects also requires sufficient interest and commitment”, Nummelin says.
New directions in housing at the regional boundaries
Objective: Development of sustainable and economically viable housing solutions that strengthen the vitality of the regions and attract new residents.
Duration: 9/2024–10/2026
Lead developer: Municipality of Pihtipudas
Co-developer: NIHAK and Savogrow Budget: €736,490 of which NIHAK’s share is €240,760
