Overview of the Festival
The 5th International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) in Dublin, Ireland, brought together over 2200 delegates from up to 40 countries across five continents. The festival’s central theme for Dublin 2025 was “storytelling,” a tradition strong in Dublin and Ireland, explored across 300 sessions and events. The event aimed to demonstrate that the need for social and affordable housing is a global phenomenon.
Key sessions attended
Affordable Housing in Parma: Living Together, Growing Together / Municipal Models for Affordable Housing – Parma, Italy
This session highlighted Parma’s inclusive housing model, where residents live in community-focused social housing developments.
Creating Housing on Ireland’s Offshore Islands and Colorado’s Rural
These sessions explored shared challenges between Ireland’s island housing issues and rural Colorado communities, including land use restrictions, labor shortages, and funding policy misalignment.
Land Use Reform & Prop 123 (Colorado) / U.S. Case Study – Land Use Reform in Colorado
Proposition 123, passed in 2022, provides permanent funding for affordable housing in Colorado through a 0.1% allocation of taxable income.
Community-Led Solutions – HomesFund (Colorado)
HomesFund provides silent second mortgages to help households close financing gaps in rural Colorado, leveraging employer partnerships and state support.
Housing Strategy 101
This session presented a three-pillar strategy: preserving existing stock (NOAH – Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing), promoting new development, and increasing access through services.
See the full report below for more details and the full list of sessions attended!
Implications for NSNPHA
The international models presented at the ISHF 2025 reinforce the value of intentional design, non-market delivery, and cross-sector collaboration. For NSNPHA, this suggests exploring:
- New ownership and rental models.
- Participatory planning with members.
- Advocacy for infrastructure and climate adaptation funding.
- Integration of health/social supports in housing delivery.
Specifically, NSNPHA may find inspiration to:
- Consider strategic partnerships to pilot rural-specific solutions, including modular builds.
- Strengthen the role of tenant engagement and lived experience in planning and policy.
- Advocate for stable, dedicated housing funds using models like Colorado’s Proposition 123.
- Explore second mortgage tools or employer-assisted housing for workforce support.
Below please find the full report!
