SoHab – Association of Solidarity for Housing and Habitat

Founded in Brussels in 1988, SoHab promotes sustainable socio-economic and cultural transformation of our cities. To build a future where housing and urban living is a form of social justice, promoting diversity and balanced resource management, we work mainly in two areas: the development of decent and affordable housing and the development of community and citizen dynamics.

Our core activities include:

• Neighbourhood Development: Setting up and supporting local social assistance, community education, socio-economic revitalisation and urban planning.

• Participatory Living - COLISO²: Creating and managing Social & Solidarity Co-Living residences (COLISO²) aimed at empowering residents to take ownership of building use, fostering residential communities, and supporting neighbourhood dynamics.

• Social and Solidarity Real-Estate Agency: Promoting social and fair rent in the private market: Combatting real estate speculation through rental management, property scouting, and brokerage services

• Renovation and Building Use: Administrative and technical support for owners and tenants in terms of safety, sanitation, comfort, and energy performance.

• International Solidarity: Global & Solidarity Citizenship Education, cooperating for the development of decent housing worldwide, participating in international networks

SoHab operates at the crossroads of urban planning, social action, architecture, collective governance, cultural programming, and participatory design. Our strong presence in Brussels’ neighbourhoods allows us to act as living labs for testing and co-creating sustainable, inclusive, and citizen-centered solutions.

Our team includes salaried staff, volunteers, and numerous partners—including architects, urban planners, social workers, and cultural actors—working together to implement projects and empower vulnerable communities.

The association engages directly with residents, project participants, and neighbourhood stakeholders, reaching hundreds of people through pilot projects and thousands more through community events, public initiatives, and educational actions.

SoHab is committed to sharing its knowledge and methodology for sustainable, inclusive, and participatory housing practices, contributing to the transformation of neighbourhoods in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus.