Affordable Housing and Social Mix: Comparative Approach

Abstract

This article deals with European and American legal techniques used to provide affordable housing and promote social mix in communities. Using a comparative approach, the work studies the concepts of sustainability and social and territorial cohesion (widely used in the legal European environment and present in the American legal framework too). The article analyzes the role of affordable housing as an element to promote social inclusion. Taking as a reference the case study of Spain and considering France, England and the American inclusionary zoning, the article concludes that public intervention should promote social mix, which could be a useful antidote for urban segregation, according to current available data. In any case, further research about those issues is necessary to have more information about the exact meaning of social mix, its adequate territorial scope and its appropriate level in each urban area.