As we approach the end of the year, we checked in with Alessandro Cesale, Eurhonet’s Director General. Alessandro looks back over our network’s achievements in 2024 and gives us a sneak peek of the plans for 2025!

“Eurhonet’s success lies in the active participation of our members. Your engagement, contributions, and willingness to share best practices are what make our network a thriving and impactful community.”

What were Eurhonet’s biggest achievements this year?

“One of our biggest achievements was the launch of the Early Careers Programme, which strengthens our offering to members. It complements our other learning and development programmes, such as the Talent Academy and the Exchange Programme.

The new programme is designed for trainees and early careers professionals to gain insights into the European housing landscape, the process of policy-making, and the role of knowledge exchange networks. It was initiated in response to a request from our German member, DOGEWO21. It is therefore a bottom-up initiative that Rose and I, with the support of the Management Team, were thrilled to further develop and host here in Brussels!

Another big project we undertook, with the support of AktivBo, was our benchmarking study on tenants’ satisfaction. It was an analysis of a significant data set from our members, the results of which were presented at our Leadership Summit in London.

The study provided us with a further opportunity to share success factors, offer concrete tips for increasing customer satisfaction, and highlight both the soft and hard values of a tenant-driven approach.”

What were your highlights?

“It’s been a busy year here at Eurhonet, so there’s plenty for me to choose from. I’d like to highlight the great number of participants and high engagement at our Topic Group meetings. Sharing what we do well and developing Eurhonet as a strong community are among our goals, so this is a positive indicator of our work over the last years.

Another highlight for me was our workshop on Behavioural Change Communication in October. Professor Richard Crisp, award-winning scientist and educator, shared practical tips and strategies for both internal and external communication, drawing on behavioural science insights. 

The recent workshop on Understanding Social Value, led by Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive of HACT, also attracted significant interest. It laid a solid foundation for future work in our Social Integration Topic Group, who have chosen to focus on social value as a priority for 2025.

Last but not least, I want to mention the election of the new Council of Administration (CofA) and our new President, Vice-President and Treasurer. Following Norrkoping’s GA, they took up a three-year mandate until October 2027. I send a warm welcome to the new CofA members and a big thank you to the outgoing members for having contributed to the development of our network over the last years.”

How is the planning going for 2025?

“Excellent! The dates of our key events and nearly the entire calendar for all Topic Groups have already been finalised for the year. Additionally, we plan to introduce a couple of online workshops throughout the year, focusing on different themes – keep an eye out for updates!

In the meantime, I am pleased to announce that our members will have the opportunity to visit the two companies that joined Eurhonet last year. Arezzo Casa Spa will host our Social Integration Group at the end of September, and ARCA Puglia Centrale will host our General Assembly in October. It is great to see such commitment, and we look forward to visiting and learning from some of the newest additions to our community.

Looking ahead to next year, the 5th edition of the International Social Housing Festival will take place in Dublin from 4-6 June 2025. We have been encouraging our members to submit applications for the European Responsible Housing Awards, as the ceremony will be held during the festival. It would be fantastic to see some of our members among the finalists.”

Left: Digital Communication and Technology Topic Group meeting in Munich – July 2024. Right: Talent Academy in Bresica – July 2024.

What are you most looking forward to in 2025?

“It’s still too early to share details, but we are exploring how to create more opportunities for human resources representatives in our member organisations. Stay tuned… next year we will see some exciting developments in this area!

We are looking forward to hosting our 2025 Leadership Summit in Brussels. With the appointment of the first-ever European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, it felt particularly timely to gather in Brussels. Thanks to the support of our colleagues at Housing Europe, we will gain deeper insights into Mr. Jørgensen’s vision and how our sector is preparing for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It will be the first time that Rose and I host a major event in our city, and we are truly excited to welcome our members to Brussels!”

How do you see Eurhonet’s place in the broader European housing context?

“I will borrow some words from the inaugural speech of our new President, Marco Corradi, during our General Assembly in October. Knowing that the gap between family income and housing costs is widening, climate change is increasingly evident, and important demographic changes are producing social challenges: “It is more important than ever to exchange best practice and experiences, so that we can provide the best services for our residents.”

In this context, Eurhonet can make a significant contribution not only to our members but also to the broader community by strengthening our collaboration with our partner, Housing Europe, and supporting their evidence-based policy work. Our Best Practice Library, updated this year with 18 new projects from our members, serves as a robust database that can be leveraged for impactful policy development.”

How can members contribute to making 2025 another successful year for Eurhonet?

“Firstly, thank you to all our members for your enthusiasm and dedication in 2024!

Indeed, Eurhonet’s success lies in the active participation of our members. Your engagement, contributions, and willingness to share best practices are what make our network a thriving and impactful community. Also, I wish to thank my colleague Rose, whose work in communication and member engagement has played a key role in fostering a strong and connected community within our network.

To help make 2025 another successful year, we encourage all members to join our meetings, contribute to our initiatives, and communicate their needs and ideas. Stay informed by reading our newsletter, visiting our website, and staying in touch with your Coordinator to explore the latest opportunities.

We believe there is something for everyone at Eurhonet, no matter your role or the stage of your career. Every staff member can benefit and help strengthen our community. Together, we can achieve even more!”