A study of how Egnahemsfabriken could be providing sustainable solutions to some of society’s most challenging issues How an application for collective house building projects and local food production can improve integration, reduce the housing shortage and create other synergies throughout society

Abstract

Sweden is in a difficult position with big challenges to solve with integration and supplying accommodation for groups of people in socioeconomic vulnerable positions. As the world economy is trembling in front of what very well could be one of the biggest economic crises that we have experienced in our lifetimes, these issues are surely not going to disappear by themselves. Egnahemsfabriken are looking for solutions that could potentially have immense impact on both of these challenging issues. However, they have not quite managed to succeed in actually providing what their main goal is; to build homes for, and together with, the most socioeconomic vulnerable groups in society which have been identified as immigrants, young people and old people. They have on the other hand already achieved great results in creating a local force to be reckoned with in the form of an arena in which social endeavours related to social building, food production, sustainability and especially integration is taking place. This research has taken a viewpoint of analysing the business model of Egnahemsfabriken as a multi sided platform with various user sides represented by self-builders, investors, charitable funds, companies and individuals who are interested in contributing. As such, the study found a few areas in which Egnahemsfabriken potentially could improve in order to gain more traction and reach its goals. In order to empower and create an environment in which its various user sides would take more initiative it could be necessary to build an online platform in the form of an application. The idea is to design an app that makes it easy for these different user sides to interact on their own terms, while at the same time providing guidance and opportunities to offer goods and services, transparency for investors and possibilities of quality control. The app should be open to initiatives from all sides, where investors, charitable funds and other contributors more clearly can see what difference they are making, thus giving more incentive to continue to contribute. If the app is easy to use, open to various social activities and ways of conducting business, it could turn out to unleash a wave of entrepreneurial spirit that could create ripple effects on the local economy.