Studia i Prace WNEiZ US

Each country has some form of housing stock built and maintained with the aim of satisfying housing needs of households unable to independently purchase or rent units on the open market. In contrast to the housing companies operating in the commercial sector, the statutory duty of public housing organizations is fulfilling the social mission as well as accomplishing tasks set out in the local housing policy. Although the concept of social housing in the European Union is built on common virtues, the methods and tools of its implementation vary depending on housing policy, availability of funds allocated for this purpose, as well as condition and size of the housing stock. Yet it is noticeable that some common trends occur across the Union, e.g. reduction of government intervention in the sphere of housing, as well as cutting public expenditures in this segment. The consequence is a progressive decentralization of housing policy and privatization of tasks related to housing. The socioeconomic and political transformation in the EU has forced social housing companies to shift their position towards the private sector. This movement is particularly evident in the field of social housing management. The aim of the paper is to present the conditions that entail creating a new paradigm within social housing management in the European Union, and to discuss trends in the segment and their probable consequences in the future. The Swedish model serves as an example. It was selected for the study mainly because we can currently observe extensive changes to the model.