Every month we introduce you to one of the people leading the work of our member organisations. In this edition, we took the train to nearby Antwerp to welcome the Director of our newest member, VVH, Björn Mallants to the Housing Europe family. Björn introduces the organisation, gives us information about the perception of housing in Flanders and shares some thoughts about the current challenges at national and regional level. Plus, as usual, he presents his own way to strike a good life-work balance.

More than 400 managers of apartment associations, local government officials and leaders from private sector gathered inTallinn on October 4th, where the XIX Housing Forum for Apartment Associations took place. The Forum is a traditional conference organised by EKYL, a open platform for exchange around the key questions related to housing and apartment associations in Estonia. This year the Forum marked the 20th anniversary of EKYL.

In a city where monthly rent can easily exceed 1.500 Euros while the overall living costs are among the highest in the world* affordable housing alternatives are crucial for many people who otherwise would be confronted with social exclusion. What forms does the response to these needs take in Geneva? Housing Europe members paid a visit to a cooperative and to a student housing project that provide solid proof about the balancing impact of affordable alternatives on a saturated housing market.