Community Welfare in Europe: Insights from Belgium and Italy 

In our previous article, we explored how community welfare initiatives in Norway support social inclusion, entrepreneurship, and community development. As part of the CommUnity – Empowering Adult Entrepreneurs to Build Resilient Communities Erasmus+ project, partners also examined community welfare initiatives in Belgium and Italy to identify practices that promote inclusive and resilient local ecosystems.

Belgium: Local services supporting social inclusion

Belgium’s welfare initiatives often focus on improving access to essential services for vulnerable populations through strong collaboration between municipalities, NGOs, and public institutions. 

One important example is the Housing First program, which aims to reduce homelessness by providing immediate access to permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness, often combined with mental health or addiction challenges. Instead of requiring individuals to meet conditions before receiving housing, the programme prioritizes stable housing first and then provides social support services.

Belgium has also developed programs that combine social support with employment opportunities. The Service Voucher Scheme, for instance, has created thousands of formal jobs in domestic services while helping households access affordable assistance. 

Italy: Entrepreneurship as a tool for community development

In Italy, particularly in the region of Puglia, many initiatives focus on entrepreneurship and local economic development as tools to reduce inequality and strengthen communities. 

Programs such as NIDI (Nuove Iniziative d'lmpresa) provide grants and interest-free loans to help unemployed individuals, young people, and women start micro-enterprises. Other initiatives, like TecnoNIDI, support innovative start-ups in technology and green sectors. 

Shared lessons for Europe

Across both countries, the research highlights the importance of accessible services, cross-sector collaboration, and community participation. These elements help ensure that welfare initiatives not only support individuals but also empower communities to actively shape their own development.

Through the CommUnity project, partners continue to explore how these approaches can inform entrepreneurship education and community-driven innovation across Europe.