Challenges to Local Housing Policies of Migrants in Europe

European cities, in particular major cities with strong economies, attract immigrants from all over the world. As a result, urban populations have become increasingly heterogeneous in ethnic, cultural, and religious terms. The housing of migrants is a central issue that affects quality of life in general. Besides finding employment and gaining access to good education it remains a crucial aspect in the process of successful structural integration of migrants in host societies. The report entitled Housing and Integration of Migrants in Europe discusses innovative policies and their implementation at the local level (Council of Europe & Eurofound 2007) as well as examining segregation and access to affordable housing for migrants. The housing situation of migrants in a city can be considered an important indicator of the present state of structural integration in the receiving society. Housing policies are an important part of overall social policy at the local level, with a strong impact on future processes of integration of migrants and their descendants. Many of the challenges of integration have to be dealt with at the local level. Cities and local authorities play a vital role, not only in the implementation of integration policies, but also in the development of innovative policies on housing, education, and cultural diversity. This paper is based on findings from 20 case studies carried out as part of the first CLIP module on housing. The research took into account the key dimensions of local housing policies for the integration of migrants and minority groups. This article highlights key issues and puts forward recommendations for policymakers at the European, national, and local level. These recommendations are intended as input in