FHS considers the real-estate aspect to be one of the elements to be exploited in Social Housing interventions as part of an approach that pays close attention to matters of a social, financial, architectural and management nature. What FHS offers is therefore based on the development of an integrated project that includes the following activities:
URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING
Each intervention includes the definition of the concept plan which is based on analysis of the constraints and opportunities presented by the territorial and social context in which the project finds itself and which develops the main themes of architectural and social design, development of the real-estate and financial sustainability. When the project involves the realization of special accommodation (cohousing for the elderly, co-residence for young people etc.), FHS also carries out the preliminary design phase.
FHS activities:
Preparation of the Concept Plan for the project: analysis of aspects of urban planning and architectural feasibility, analysis of services, community profits, regulatory and administrative assistance, detailed study of both the residential models and of the type of housing that is appropriate to meet the particular demand.
Analysis of the demand and design of the offer: preliminary analysis of the general demographic trend, of the project’s potential catchment area and of any housing distress present; estimate of rent and of reference prices and analysis of the absorption capacity of the local market, definition of the mix of housing unit typologies on offer.
Definition of the project guidelines and preliminary architectural design: assistance with architectural design, preliminary architectural design, architectural design of innovative residential schemes dedicated to a specific target user-base.
Arrangement of Design Contests: organization and planning of contests and competitions for design or ideas
Go to section TOOLS to view the Design Manual:
Strumenti per l’housing sociale | Realizzare housing sociale
SERVICE DESIGN AND HOUSING WELFARE
The initiatives that FHS promotes include the design of spaces that are destined to shared activities and services, both inside and outside the buildings themselves. The objectives are to meet the needs of the residents, to integrate the new resident community into the local neighbourhood and to give value to the public space situated near the intervention.
FHS activities:
Executive design of the Local-Urban Services: service design, identification of the entities that will manage the local-urban services, co-design of the services, business plan of the services;
Executive design of Collaborative Residential Services: design of the support process for the co-design of services, toolkit for the residents (including digital tools to facilitate sharing), service start-up planning.
Go to section TOOLS to see the service design TOOLS that have been designed by FHS.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT
The attention placed on the social dimension of each intervention has led FHS to develop specific strategies to facilitate the construction of close-knit communities and to equip the residents with planning and governance tools that facilitate the sharing of services and experiences. In addition, FHS has also defined a social management program for the buildings, designed to offer a response to the need for innovative and integrative ways of administrating the interventions, combining the activities that relate to administration of the buildings with the enhancement of the relationships with the residents, and with the involvement of these same residents in looking after the communal spaces.
FHS activities:
Social Manager: identification and selection of the Social Manager, support of the Social Manager in structuring the activities, in the planning and start-up of the info-point, selection of residents, drafting of the agreements on affordable rent with the local authorities and of the public notice for rent. Planning and coordination of informational meetings and workshops, planning and management of the selection meetings.
Community Start-Up Process: design and planning of the program to support and develop the close-knit community, planning and management of the meetings and tools, concept generation of services and collaborative activities, training of facilitators, evaluation of the program’s progress.
Social Project: definition of the community’s reference profile, definition of the criteria for the assignment of dwellings, assistance with the property management in dealings with the public administration, definition of criteria for the selection of assignees, active verification and management of the functioning of the community and of the Social Manager’s activities for the entire duration of the investment, verification of the correct execution of the planned activities, monitoring of the activities, receipt and evaluation of the periodic reports produced by the Social Manager, monitoring of the functioning of the community and the services, identification of any adjustments or improvements that may be required.
Mobility Plans: profiling of resident tenants, evaluation of the existing housing stock in relation to the tenants’ needs, definition of detailed mobility plans and their implementation, support to the Social Manager in the implementation of the mobility process.
– Strumenti per l’housing sociale | Il Gestore Sociale
– Il laboratorio sociale | Verso la definizione di nuovi modelli di gestione residenziale
COMMUNICATION
Communication in this sector is strategic because it needs to keep attention focussed on the affordability and ethical objectives of the projects, at the same time highlighting the innovative and qualitative features of the housing offer. Every aspect of communication needs to be carefully looked after to promote the project clearly and efficiently and to construct and strengthen the identity of a social and collaborative initiative. FHS is in charge of defining a suitable communication strategy, the visual identity of the intervention, the communication tools and the toolkit for the residents.
FHS activities:
Design of communication strategies, design of communication tools, definition of visual identity, promotion and communication relating to the interventions, planning and launch of the residents’ blog, design and implementation of the web platform.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS
The Finance Area of FHS is in charge of the financial and economic structuring of Social Housing initiatives. In particular, it provides assistance to both public (municipal authorities, and other public providers) and private entities (banking foundations, Social Housing fund management companies, cooperatives, associations and real-estate developers, etc.) in the financial and economic planning of their initiatives.
FHS activities:
Preliminary analysis of the projects, preliminary investment estimate, setting up of a business plan, provision of support to the Design and Development Sector for the study and execution of the services.
