ABSTRACT
Several important conclusions emerge from this history of social housing in five European countries. Despite the effects of poverty, a majority of social housing is not posing special problems. The issue of race and cultural diversity is becoming more pressing because of the scale of immigration, the maturing of second-generation households from racial minorities, and the opening of frontiers. The 12.5 million post-war social housing units of the five countries are likely to remain in use to meet new needs; it is therefore important to reverse the intense problems social landlords face on the segregated and uniformly poor 'mass' estates, which threaten stability in all countries. More social housing is needed to make such diversification possible. Social housing has acquired a permanent and unforeseen role, responding to pressures of immigration, segregation and marginalisation. Owner-occupation is no longer a clear and simple housing solution for all.
