Le co-housing en Italie entre rêve et réalité. Une recherche sur les aspirations à la co-résidence

In this essay we will describe the main results of a case study carried out on two Cohousing associations that actively promote and increase awareness of cohousing, a model of co-residence that is gradually developing also in Italy. The research, conducted through several interviews with members of the ‘Cohousing in Toscana’ and ‘Coabitare’ Associations and analysis of their narratives, shows that people are really motivated to invest time and resources in collective projects to realize a model of social and sustainable life.     

Local policy networks in the programme Social City—a case in point for new forms of governance in the field of local social work and urban planning1 Lokale Politiknetzwerke im Programm Soziale Stadt—ein Beispielfall für neue Formen von governance im Bereich lokaler Sozialer Arbeit und Stadtplanung

The federal programme Social City represents a concept that is different from traditional urban planning, social work and local economic development as well as planning concepts in various ways. The developmental processes to be set into motion on the level of city districts:

• should make cooperation between various sectors and actors a key issue;

• should encourage them to invest into this cooperation and use the resources to be brought about by their participation and

• furthermore, the participation of various groups of the local population is foreseen.

Building up the respective institutional premises for this kind of networking and participation is part of the programme. Thereby urban planning and policies in social work and social services are to be brought into cooperation. The paper is based on an evaluative study of such local policy networks as they take place in one of the Länder, Hessen. Central results of the analysis will be presented, and suggestions for the programme's further development as a new concept of governance at the local level include some reflections on its potential for legitimising social work in community building.