Co-hosting Housing Europe’s International Professional Workshop

Members of the advocacy organization Housing Europe gathered in Budapest on May 21, 2026, to discuss financing options for the social and affordable rental housing sector. The event was organized by the MR Community Housing Fund (MR Közösségi Lakásalap).

Across Europe, numerous financing opportunities are available through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union—complemented by structural funds, as well as national and local support programs—that can help address housing challenges. However, greater alignment between financing systems and better adaptation to national specificities remain essential. This was a key takeaway from the international workshop, which brought together housing providers, financial institutions, public entities, and researchers to debate current barriers and opportunities in funding social and affordable housing.

The event aimed to spark broader strategic thinking on key topics, such as appropriate governance frameworks for financing community, cooperative, and social housing providers, as well as the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the European Affordable Housing Plan (EAHP).

The discussions centered around two main themes:

  1. European Approaches to Housing Affordability: Comparing how different countries define, finance, and deliver community, cooperative, and social housing. By analyzing various national systems, participants assessed which principles and models could be relevant or adaptable to the Hungarian context, and what can realistically be implemented.

  2. New EU Funding Opportunities: Focusing on mechanisms linked to the EAHP and the next MFF. In light of limited public subsidies and the phasing out of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the conversation explored how to leverage newly emerging EU financial instruments. It provided concrete insights into how Hungarian housing providers and municipalities can prepare for the upcoming funding period to utilize new support opportunities.

Additionally, the workshop aimed to identify practical solutions to overcome financial barriers, drawing on international best practices to help Hungarian stakeholders strengthen their investment capacity and accelerate the construction and renovation of affordable homes.