Expert: Healthy housing helps reduce segregation

Healthy housing makes it possible to reduce segregation.

Report informs that Ilkka Porttikivi, deputy mayor of Tampere, Finland, said this at an event titled "Azerbaijan: The Pulse of Healthy Homes," held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

"We try to create neighborhoods where different income groups and living conditions coexist, instead of distributing people across different parts of the city. In terms of long-term social resilience, it is important for children from different backgrounds to grow up together in the same neighborhood and attend the same school. This strengthens social cohesion, trust and resilience.

"Politically, this requires long-term commitment and sometimes difficult discussions. Urban densification, mobility changes and infill development can cause concern among residents. Financially, it requires major investments in public transport, public spaces, streets, parks and services before the full benefits become visible.

"We measure success through numerous indicators: access to services and public transport, housing production, resident satisfaction, mobility patterns, climate impact and broader welfare indicators. But some of the most important outcomes are long-term and difficult to measure immediately: reduced segregation, stronger communities and healthier everyday life," he said.

According to the guest, housing provision should not be planned separately from mobility, services, public space and nature: "Healthy homes are linked to healthy neighborhoods. In addition, prevention is important. Preventing segregation, isolation and poor living conditions is far better and more humane than trying to fix these problems after they arise.

"Cities should also create mixed neighborhoods instead of separating people from each other based on income or origin. Social solidarity does not happen by itself. Cities must actively create environments where people from different walks of life can share the same schools, public spaces and everyday experiences.

"Finally, residents and local communities must be listened to carefully. Technical planning alone is not enough. People must feel safe and included in the processes."