Countries with the best social housing programs is a key expression that guides this analysis.

In a world where access to decent housing is becoming increasingly difficult, it is essential to know which nations have made significant progress.

In this article, you'll discover, in summary: the countries leading the way in social housing policies, the factors that explain their success, two concrete examples that illustrate the models, and a critical reflection on what other countries can learn.

Why invest in social housing?

Access to affordable housing is essential for social stability, individual development, and community cohesion.

When families spend a disproportionate portion of their income on rent or mortgages, it leads to health problems, restricted mobility, and less investment in education.

A report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) notes that “in most OECD countries, households on social rent are less likely to spend more than 40% of their disposable income on housing than those renting on the private market.”

Thus, when examining the countries with the best social housing programs, systems are sought that combine quality, inclusion, scale, and financial sustainability. But what characteristics do these models have in common?

Key factors that define a good program

For a social housing program to be effective, it must bring together several elements:

1. High relative share of social housingFor example, some countries have more than 20% of their total housing as social programs.
2. Wide accessibility: not only for the poorest, but also for vulnerable middle classes, avoiding the concentration of poverty.
3. Adequate quality and design: that social housing is not synonymous with impoverishment or “second class” compared to private housing.
4. Fiscal and technical sustainability: clear management, proper maintenance, transparency.
5. Urban and social integration: located in areas with access to transportation, services and employment, avoiding ghettos.
6. Stable state policy with a long-term vision: without depending solely on electoral cycles.

Based on these criteria, several countries stand out as good models. Below, we review three of them.

Leading Countries: Three Outstanding Examples

1. Netherlands

The Dutch model is among the most efficient in social housing.

According to statistics, this country has a considerable proportion of housing designated for social rentals; in fact, it exceeds the 30% threshold in some analyses.

The program relies on non-profit housing associations that manage the social housing stock, set rents based on cost, and reinvest profits in more housing.

This structure has allowed social housing to remain unstigmatized and coexist alongside other housing categories.

Concrete exampleIn the city of Amersfoort, in the VINEX Vathorst project, social housing (rental or restricted sale) was allocated alongside market units, in order to avoid segregation and promote social mixing.

2. Austria (and in particular the city of Vienna)

Austria has been identified as a nation with a robust social housing program accessible to a broad spectrum of the population. The OECD identifies Austria as having both "subsidized housing" (Geförderte Wohnungen) and municipal housing (Gemeindewohnungen), and eligibility reaches a large proportion of households.

Vienna, in particular, is known for its international reputation as a "rental utopia." In the Austrian capital, social housing accounts for more than 40 million square feet of the housing stock.

A useful analogy: thinking about Vienna is like contemplating a well-maintained garden, where every plant has space, light, and care; in many cities, however, social housing is that bush left on the sidelines, without flowers or attention.

3. Denmark

Denmark takes a slightly different approach: its social housing system via “almen bolig” (general housing) is designed for a fairly broad population, not exclusively for the most disadvantaged.

According to academic studies, the Danish system offers cost-based rentals with public housing associations.

For example, in Copenhagen, approximately a quarter of new construction is required to be affordable housing, helping to prevent social housing from being marginalized.

A relevant statistic

A figure that highlights the difference between countries: according to data from the OECD database, in 2022 the average number of households that rented (both in the private market and with subsidies) was approximately 24 % of the total in OECD countries.

But the percentage of social housing varies widely: some major countries exceed 15% of total housing dedicated to social rentals.

Two original examples of successful policies

To better illustrate how good social housing programs are implemented in practice, consider these two cases.

Example AIn the Netherlands, a middle-class family with moderate incomes accesses social housing through a housing association that applies clear and transparent criteria: regulated rent, ongoing maintenance, and community involvement.

Thanks to the model, this family reduces its housing costs and can allocate more resources to education and well-being.

Example BIn Vienna, a single mother with two children finds social housing in a neighborhood well connected to public transport, with community amenities and a rent that is approximately 30 % lower than the average market rent.

This housing isn't "basic cheap housing," but rather good quality, without seeming like an emergency solution; it's decent housing.

These examples show that a social housing program is not simply about "providing cheap roofs," but about integrating them into the urban fabric with dignity and stability.

Read more: Most important social benefits in 2025

What lessons can other countries learn?

When observing the countries with the best social housing programs, a series of lessons emerge that apply to diverse contexts:

• Long-term policyA one-off intervention is not enough; there must be a perpetual framework.
• Social mix and urban integration: not to concentrate only the poorest in isolated blocks.
• Professional management and maintenance: Social housing must be well maintained to ensure its social and economic value endures.
• Sustainable financing: can combine public funds, regulated rental rates, investments from non-profit entities.
• Wide accessPrograms that limit social housing to only the poorest tend to stigmatize; more universal models generate cohesion.

There are also challenges: long wait times, excessive bureaucracy, and real estate pressure that reduces the construction of social housing.

A common criticism is that even in countries with good programs, demand exceeds supply, resulting in long waiting lists.

What is the outlook for Latin America?

Although the focus of this analysis has been on European and Asian models, this does not mean that other continents are excluded from the process.

In Latin America, for example, rapidly urbanizing countries face the challenge of informal housing, but also have experiences with social housing programs that could be inspired by the aforementioned models.

The challenge is to adapt these best practices to contexts with more limited resources, informal settings, and urgent needs.

Conclusion

Coming to a close, we can state with conviction that the countries with the best social housing programs They are those that combine scale, quality, accessibility and urban integration.

Models like those in the Netherlands, Austria (Vienna), and Denmark demonstrate that it's not just about building "cheap" housing, but about building cities with dignity. Well-designed social housing is like the foundation of a solid building: invisible to many, but essential.

Now, how can these experiences be transferred to countries with different contexts, tighter budgets, and different structures?

The way forward is not to copy schemes literally, but to adapt principles: long-term policy, good management, quality, social mix.

Read more: How to apply for aid step by step

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What exactly defines “social housing”?
Social housing, or social rental housing, is subsidized housing offered at regulated or below-market prices and is intended for people with moderate or low incomes.

Different countries define access criteria in different ways.

Q2. Can a social housing program also serve the middle classes?
Yes. Models like Denmark's allow not only the poorest to access social housing, but also middle-class citizens, promoting integration and preventing segregation.

Q3. What percentage of total housing should be dedicated to social housing for the program to be “good”?
There is no magic threshold, but the OECD indicates that countries with a significant share of social housing tend to exceed 15% of total housing stock.

Q4. What challenges do these programs face in practice?
Among the most common challenges are insufficient financing, long waiting lists, poor location (without services or transportation), poor maintenance, and pressure from real estate markets that make land more expensive.

Q5. How is the success of a social housing program measured?
Based on indicators such as: percentage of the housing stock dedicated to social housing, proportion of household income spent on housing, housing quality, urban integration, and long-term occupation stability.