Social Housing and Right to the City: Experiences of Inhabitants and Social Workers in Mumbai and Geneva

Abstract

The question of housing in various economies and contexts reveals itself through complex policies and practices. The inability to access dignified housing means compromising the ‘right to the city’. The article explores the complex urban challenges of housing and social inclusion in Mumbai and Geneva. It examines how urbanization, driven by neoliberal policies, often exacerbates socio-economic inequalities, depriving marginalized communities’ right to the city. The article highlights social housing as a critical element for inclusive urban spaces, where access to adequate housing represents participation in public life. In Mumbai, resettlement colonies reveal how the urban poor face displacement and disrupted social networks due to resettlement to a peripheral place. In contrast, despite being well-intentioned, Geneva’s social housing policies struggle to meet demand, with rising exclusions due to aporophobia and housing shortages. However, social workers and NGOs are pivotal in advocating for inhabitants’ rights and facilitating community cohesion in both cities. To understand the current urban development issues, the article focuses on the points of view and practices of social workers, inhabitants, and communities in the construction of ‘living together’ within the new neighbourhoods. The analysis underscores that the vision of an inclusive, just city remains elusive without equitable housing policies.