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Rethinking housing policies in order to fight depopulation: Saint-Quentin’s Approach

One of the key strategies to address depopulation lies in rethinking housing policies. Ensuring high-quality, affordable housing that meets the needs of diverse population groups—especially young people—is essential to reversing the trend of outmigration. By fostering vibrant neighborhoods and improving living conditions, housing policies play a pivotal role in halting the exodus of residents and revitalizing the urban fabric.

From Decline to Growth: Mantova's Journey to Reclaiming Its Future

For the first time in 30 years, Mantova, a historic city in northern Italy, has surpassed 50,000 residents. This milestone, officially confirmed on December 19, 2024, demonstrates that reversing depopulation trends is not just a distant dream but an achievable reality. The city’s experience, supported by the URBACT "Residents of the Future" network and its goal to create sustainable and inclusive solutions to population decline, offers valuable lessons for other mid-sized towns facing similar challenges.

Your Future Lives Here: Addressing Population Decline in Mantova, Italy

URBACT stands out as a dynamic hub for collaboration, enabling cities across Europe to share inspiring practices and shape brighter futures together. At the recent transnational meeting of the Residents of the Future network in Mangualde (Portugal), the City of Mantova (Italy) showcased an excellent example of how cities can learn and grow through this vibrant exchange of ideas.

Thanks to Caterina Salvo and Emanuele Salmin for contributions on article.

Housing Challenges in Shrinking Cities

For the first time in European history, a dedicated Housing Commissioner has been appointed to the European Commission, reflecting a growing recognition of housing as a critical issue across the continent. While much attention is focused on the housing crisis in rapidly growing cities, the challenges faced by shrinking cities often remain underexplored.

Written by Liat Rogel - URBACT Expert
Edited & published by Krešimir Grubić

The City of Šibenik Presents Itself to Zagreb Students as a Hub of Career Opportunities and High-Quality Living

Work-Life Balance in the Mediterranean Style. On Thursday, December 5th, the Technical Polytechnic of Zagreb (TVZ) hosted a presentation about Šibenik, showcasing it as a city where it’s possible to develop a successful career while enjoying all the benefits of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The event was part of the URBACT project – Residents of the Future, which addresses the challenges of depopulation and population loss in small towns.

The Power of Investment in Small Cities: Keeping Residents and Attracting New Talent

Small cities across Europe are at a crossroads. Many are seeing young people leave for larger urban centers, chasing better job opportunities and lifestyles. This phenomenon, known as urban shrinkage, threatens the vitality of these communities. Investments create new job opportunities, support local businesses, and improve the quality of life. When people see their city as a place with potential, they’re more likely to stay and others are more likely to move in. Attracting investments into small cities is a huge challenge. How to attract investors? Where to find them? What should we offer? How to distinct good investments from the bad ones. And what does it even mean?