Ailbhe addresses conference delegates
Image: Naoise Culhane
A problem shared is a problem halved
Reflections from the recent International Social Housing Festival in Dublin
INNOVATION & IMPROVEMENT
Ailbhe McLoughlin
Director, International Social Housing Festival 2025
Ailbhe McLoughlin
Director, International Social Housing Festival 2025
Issue 80 | October 2025
The fifth instalment of the International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) took place in June, when nearly 2,500 delegates from 35 different countries travelled to the Convention Centre in Dublin City to discuss all things related to social housing.
Across two-and-a-half days, delegates attended 300 festival sessions and more than 20 field trips to discuss the ever-present topics of climate and housing, homelessness, housing and young people, affordability, housing and health, and housing delivery.
Among the delegates were social and affordable housing providers, policy and academic experts, housing activists, elected members, local government officials, architects, planners, researchers and anyone with an interest in the sector.
James Browne, Irish Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, speaking at the conference
EU focus on housing
ISHF is an initiative from Housing Europe – the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing. Every host city can decide on its own theme and put its own twist on the event. Dublin’s theme was ‘Storytelling’, which was whole-heartedly embraced by presenters and delegates throughout the festival.
In a bid to address the wide-spread housing challenges being faced, ISHF 2025 provided a platform to offer solutions by coming together and learning from each other’s successes and failures.
The opening address by James Browne TD, Irish Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, reminded us that tackling the housing crisis is now a focus for the EU, with a dedicated commissioner appointed and an affordable housing plan due to be published.
Delegates we were also reminded, via contributions from author, Katriona O’ Sullivan, and activist, Joanne O’Riordan, that behind every ‘unit of housing’ is a real person who needs a home. While discussions around bricks and mortar are important, my main takeaway as director of the festival was that we cannot allow the housing needs of the more vulnerable in society to be forgotten. No where is this more relevant at the moment, than in Ireland.
Making progress
We have undoubtedly made great strides in the delivery of social and affordable housing after the lacuna that followed the financial crisis. This was clear in the demand for attending the field trips to various public housing projects across the county of Dublin over the course of the festival.
However, at the same time, we are not delivering a sufficient amount of good-quality affordable homes for people with disabilities, care leavers, older people, domestic violence survivors, Travellers – the list goes on.
In the rush to ensure targets are met and housing is delivered as quickly as possible, we must also remember these homes need to be both liveable and of good quality for those who live in them and for the wider community.
It is against this backdrop in Ireland that we await the publication of the new national housing plan. There is a hope and an expectation that momentum around social and affordable housing delivery will be supported and that some of the challenges referenced above will be tackled.
“I was both heartened and surprised to hear from our international colleagues at ISHF 2025 as to how these issues are also transpiring in their home countries and how they hope to address them.”
International experience
I was both heartened and surprised to hear from our international colleagues at ISHF 2025 as to how these issues are also transpiring in their home countries and how they hope to address them.
My parting challenge to delegates at the closing ceremony of the festival was to encourage them to take whatever learnings and new energy they now possess home and maintain the connections made at ISHF 2025. And of course, to report back on any progress, or indeed setbacks, at the next iteration of the event in Lisbon in 2027.
