Navigating Complexity: Unraveling the Interplay of Public and Private Forces in Affordable Housing Governance

There is a critical and expanding body of literature on housing shortage. Recognised as a constitutional right in several countries, and amid its shortage, governments globally are mobilising existing tools and devising new strategies to address the housing crisis. However, within the context of financialised housing markets, governance tools for the provision and maintenance of affordable housing reveal a complex interplay between public and private interests, as well as operational timelines. This complexity prompts fundamental questions regarding the roles and values guiding both the private and public sectors and the nature of their relationships. This paper draws on the literature on governance, planning, and housing, with a specific focus on unravelling the intricate relationships between the private and the public sector in land and property. The aim is to explore the role of political concepts and practices, such as the essentially contested concept of the public good and the practice of partnerships, in shaping affordable housing policy and policy outcomes. Using a case study approach of a public-private partnership program for affordable housing led by Lisbon Municipality, the paper seeks to explore how the multiple objectives and timelines of the various stakeholders involved, were individually and collectively conceptualised and eventually reconciled. The findings suggest a tendency among participants in public-private partnerships to rely on overly simplistic interpretations of the public good and dichotomies or simplistic viewpoints on the objectives and timelines of the various stakeholders. These oversimplifications may stem from a desire for clarity and ideological consistency, but risk neglecting the nuanced nature of public goods, especially within the intricate context of affordable housing initiatives. By avoiding these oversimplifications, emerges a deeper understanding of the growing complexity of urban governance in the the provision and maintenance of affordable housing. This nuanced perspective not only illuminates the multifaceted nature of the challenge, but also holds the potential to catalyse the expansion of government institutional capacity. The recognition and acknowledgment of the multifaceted dynamics involved in affordable housing initiatives offer an opportunity for policymakers and urban planners to develop more comprehensive strategies. Avoiding oversimplifications in the approach to the governance of affordable housing can facilitate a more strategic and informed decision-making process.