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Hi John,
We’re back from Vienna and Berlin! Last week we brought together housing organizers and elected leaders from California, Seattle, Nashville, Colorado, Philly, Chicago, and Boston on a trip to study community-controlled housing models. We met with elected officials and organizers, visited notable social housing projects, and learned so much about housing that works for people, communities, and the planet.
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Check out some of the highlights and lessons:
[[link removed]] Day 1: We explored a new community called Seestadt Aspern, talked with city planners, learned about the political history of social housing in the city, and visited the decades old public housing project Karl-Marx-Hof. Beautiful, affordable housing is possible, but we need the right political conditions to make it happen.
Day 2: We went to the Vienna Chamber of Labour to discuss the nitty gritty details of Vienna’s social housing system, then visited the Sonnwendviertel neighborhood and Gleis 21, a resident-designed and run building in the area. Social housing requires lasting commitment, real investment, and community governance to be successful. [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Day 3: After learning about Vienna’s climate strategy from Jürgen Czernohorszky (Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel), we made our way to Berlin where we met organizers with DWE, a campaign to take housing out of the hands of corporations.
Day 4: We met with DWE organizers to learn about the history of their campaign and how they’re fighting back against corporate power. In cities all around the world, real estate developers and landlords want to commodify something we all need: safe, affordable housing. Yet in those same cities, people are fighting back and winning – and we can learn so much from each other. [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Day 5: For our last day, we visited the Wedding neighborhood, where there is an extremely powerful tenant organizing initiative. Then we met up again with the DWE organizers to see firsthand how they’re building power and keeping up the momentum in a visionary, multiyear campaign.
We’re still processing all of the lessons and unforgettable moments of this trip — from organizing strategies to practical policy guidance to beautifully designed buildings that center community needs.
Here are some of our big takeaways so far:
🌱 Preserving land for the common good is essential.
🌱 A home isn't just a place to live, it can play a big role in building community.
🌱 The kind of housing system we build is a statement about our values.
This trip has been rich with information and inspiration which will add fuel to our fights as we return home. Thanks for following along — and check out our Instagram [[link removed]] & TikTok [[link removed]] to watch the recaps from each day!
Lauren Jacobs [[link removed]] In solidarity,
Christina Rosales
Housing and Land Justice Director
PowerSwitch Action
1305 Franklin St.
Suite 501
Oakland, CA 94612
United States
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