Partnerships have a long history in European social housing with a mixed degree of success. They are an emerging model in post-socialist countries driven by budgetary constraints, rapid privatisation of public housing, and pragmatic efforts to respond to a complex housing affordability crisis. This article evaluates the challenges and opportunities of a new partnership model implemented in Albania to provide social rental housing. The project, launched in 2009, involves a legally defined partnership between central and local governments, the private sector, and an international financial institution. It has doubled the amount of municipal rental housing, addressing the needs of low- and mid-income households in Albania through the construction of 1,138 rental apartments for 4,300 people in eight cities. The allocation process, although politically charged, has been targeted. The partnership has capitalised on efficiencies, sound fiscal management, and cost and quality control. Despite some construction delays and potential concerns related to future sustainability, we argue that the partnership model is effective and has an important learning and innovation role for the future provision of social housing in Albania as well as in other post-socialist countries in South-East Europe facing similar challenges.
In Brno there live about 500 Bulgarians, in most cases university-educated specialists, descendants of gardeners and students. Even though they do not acknowledge Bulgarian nationality, they speak Bulgarian and they maintain contacts among themeselves and with relatives in Bulgaria. Ethnic identity is being preserved in privacy. Czech majority considers them Czechs, only friends and colleagues know their ethnic origin. Seasonal migrations of gardeners reached peak in the 1930s, when the Bulgarian minority in Brno constituted the most numerous community in Bohemia. Through the contacts with Bulgarians, Czechs constructed the image of modest, hard-working, efficient Bulgarian workers and professionals. Bulgarians were respected and welcomed. They represented the most emancipated sector of Bulgarian population. They contributed to their home country as well as to Europe, they constituted part of European cultural history. Czech majority nowadays had already forgotten their activities and their results accepts as regular part of their life. Ignored is the educational contribution of Bulgarian graduates of technical institute and medical faculty in Brno. The incorporation of Bulgarian minority in Brno proceeded throughout generations, from acceptation of Czech particularities through gradual integration into uncompleted assimilation with certain manifestations of ethnic and cultural identity. The authors applied the method of guided interview during their field researches, they utilized archival sources and long-term personal acquaintance with Brno and Bulgaria.