How public professionals engage residents in the transition to making housing more sustainable

Full title: Democratic activities in the transition to making housing more sustainable: how public professionals engage residents and make moral considerations

Lecturer Ben Eggink carries out PhD research into democratic activities in the transition towards more sustainable housing. He is looking in particular at the way in which public sector professionals engage residents in this process and how they make moral considerations.

Summary

We face a major challenge in the energy transition. Only 1 per cent of the built environment has been made sustainable, whilst the European Union’s target is to be climate-neutral by 2050. The greatest benefits can be achieved for vulnerable households: lower energy bills, better indoor air quality and improved general well-being. Yet it is precisely in vulnerable neighbourhoods that the process of making homes more sustainable is progressing very slowly.

An evaluation of the first projects shows that residents often feel their voices are not being heard in the sustainability process, become more distrustful and fear that they will ultimately foot the bill. That is why it is important for local authorities to involve residents in the energy transition. The involvement of various public sector professionals is crucial in this regard, such as the local authority’s area manager, the housing association’s housing adviser or the community worker from a welfare organisation. They are in direct contact with residents and can implement policy from the residents’ perspective.

Eggink is keen to know how they go about it, what considerations they take into account, and what this demands of them. “The idea is that they engage with residents and listen actively, that they recognise the emotions behind residents’ reactions and work together to bring about change. But in their day-to-day work, these professionals encounter all sorts of challenges. There are too few resources, time is limited, and residents’ needs vary. You also have to invest yourself in the process, and you’re the one making the decisions. So, to actually achieve anything, as a professional you need a sort of ‘gymnastics of the self’. What does that look like?”

Eggink first intends to compile an overview of around 30 existing, relevant practices, with the help of experts. He then dives deeper into the subject in his research. He wants to support professionals in the public sector in their work using the findings of his research, and to incorporate the competencies into teaching programmes for future professionals.

Researcher

Ben Eggink is a lecturer in Social Work at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and is involved with the research group on Coordination of Metropolitan Issues. He carries out his PhD research through the graduate school of the University of Humanistic Studies.

Partners

• Hogeschool Utrecht
• Hogeschool Arnhem Nijmegen
• Movisie
• Branchevereniging Sociaal Werk
• Alliantie Inclusieve Energietransitie

Financing

Doctoral Grant for Teachers, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and awarded by NWO until 2027. This fellowship gives teachers the opportunity to further their professional development and strengthens the link between universities and schools.