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This book offers a European perspective on urban planning and spatial design by outlining housing policies in Southern Europe and their evolution. Through a unique case study on the city of Turin it explores social innovation and the relationship between the urban regeneration process and housing practices. The case study is a useful example in the debate about changing welfare arrangements in Europe and the emerging rhetoric of social innovation in housing. The book encourages debate about the tools needed to address housing needs, exploring current practices. Chapters look at the spatial dimension of housing, the financial mechanisms put in place, the actors involved in the field (public authorities, ethical investors, tertiary sector, inhabitants and locals.) The case study of the metropolitan city of Turin demonstrates complex housing needs and the innovative character of public and private solutions. As this book combines theory and practice, it appeals to both academics and practitioners. It is especially be of interest to spatial planners, geographers and social scientists interested in housing policies, and those interested in the Italian context of the case study.

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Critical background: social housing and its development during the decades.- Housing policies in Italy: from social housing to neo-liberalism.- The city of Turin: case study of innovative housing policies in the last decade.- Social housing & social innovation: remarks for future policies and practices.

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Nadia Caruso, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, in the Inter-University Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning. As a Spatial planner, her main research interests are housing policies and social housing, urban regeneration processes, and governance of metropolitan areas. She is currently the Chair of AESOP Young Academics Network. She took part in national and international research projects working on the topics of territorial governance and evolution of socio-economic dynamics in metropolitan cities (ESPON and Italian PRIN - research project of national interest). Previously she worked in the development of the Regional Plan of the Piedmont region (Italy), as well as in the activities of various European projects in the URBACT, INTERREG, and Life Long Learning frameworks.

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