EFL is now represented in 11 different countries, thanks to our newest member, Fondazione Housing Sociale (FHS) from Italy.  FHS was created in 2004 in Milan with the purpose of developing and promoting social housing in Italy. They are a nonprofit organization devoted to experimenting with innovative solutions to offer affordable housing units to people unable to meet their housing needs on the marketplace. FHS operates mainly within SIF, the Italian funding platform for social and affordable housing, which has the potential and funding to realize over 270 projects, and this allows them to exceed 20.000 social homes and 8.500 beds in temporary and student accommodation.

FHS has the potential and funding to realize over 270 projects, and this allows them to exceed 20.000 social homes and 8.500 beds in temporary and student accommodation.

FHS provides a meaningful example of how the intersection between three crucial policy dimensions – housing, urban, and social policies – can help redraw the boundaries of local welfare. FHS pays close attention to the social dimension of place-making, developing strategies and instruments to accelerate the natural process of community evolution, undertaking a journey with tenants to establish a high level of trust and collaboration in planning and managing shared services and communal spaces.

FHS is not solely a housing provider. They put emphasis on community development through promotion and support of building managers and tenants. They prioritize designing services, and the inclusion of local and urban services in residential complexes strengthens the relationship between the new complex and the existing neighborhood. This inclusion of collaborative residential services, along with suitable social support, promote the formation of a sense of community and belonging.

Environmental sustainability in architecture is also important to FHS. Development of their residences start with energy efficiency being one of the key points of the construction plan. This aims to incentive the adoption of sustainable lifestyles as a key ingredient necessary to achieve the most ambitious results of the project.