The Ruralise project promotes affordable, accessible and sustainable rural housing, with Heinävesi as one of its six pilot regions.
The Karelian Institute at the University of Eastern Finland and the Municipality of Heinävesi are involved in the three-year international Ruralise project. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon programme, the project seeks solutions to support affordable and sustainable housing in rural areas.
The project addresses a pressing challenge in both Finland and elsewhere in Europe: rural depopulation and population ageing are affecting housing demand, while some homes are left vacant or fall into disrepair. At the same time, demand for second homes is also growing. The project also examines structural discrimination and the opportunities for vulnerable groups to find affordable and suitable housing in rural areas.
The Heinävesi pilot will investigate factors affecting rural housing and regional vitality. The project will work with local stakeholders and residents to find solutions to the challenges of rural housing.
Virpi Pakarinen, Development Specialist at the Municipality of Heinävesi, considers the project significant for Heinävesi’s regional development.
“What we expect from the project are concrete ways to strengthen the vitality of, and collaboration between, Heinävesi’s villages.”
The Municipality of Heinävesi will receive 327,000 euros from the project to develop the conditions for housing in the region. During the project, workshops, pilots and village meetings will be organised in Heinävesi, enabling residents to take part in the development of their region.
“It is extremely important to involve residents in development projects. We want to improve the opportunities of people living in Heinävesi to influence the future of their home region and to play an active role in its development,” Pakarinen adds.
The project’s other pilot regions are located in Bulgaria, Greece, Norway, Ireland and Italy.
The Heinävesi pilot will introduce issues specific to Finnish rural areas into European collaboration, while also strengthening North Karelia’s capacity to develop the conditions for housing in the region.
“The Ruralise project makes Heinävesi part of a European search for solutions, while strengthening opportunities to develop rural housing on the basis of local needs and strengths,” says Research Director Petri Kahila of the Karelian Institute.
The project is coordinated by Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy Foundation (IEECP).
For further information, please contact:
Development Specialist Virpi Pakarinen, Municipality of Heinävesi, tel. +358 50 4737310, virpi.pakarinen(at)heinavesi.fi
Coordinator (Cultural Services and Communications) Heli Miikkulainen-Gilbert, Municipality of Heinävesi, tel. +358 40 5504811, heli.miikkulainen-gilbert(at)heinavesi.fi
Director of the Karelian Institute Petri Kahila, University of Eastern Finland, tel. +358 50 411 8445, petri.kahila(at)uef.fi
Project Researcher Aino Scherer, University of Eastern Finland, tel. +358 50 326 2902
