Central themes
This Working Group focuses on urban neighbourhoods and local communities. We are interested in the social mechanisms behind and the implications of concentrated poverty and deprivation, segregation between various socio-economic groups, and broader social inequalities between residents. Other topics of interest are life course trajectories, social networks, social capital, or social cohesion, and neighbourhood effects, as well as policies targeting matters in neighbourhoods and urban areas, such as social mix, tenure types, and de-concentration policies. Another focus concerns how neighbourhoods and their residents deal with the impacts of macro trends such as welfare state retrenchment, austerity regimes, budget cuts, and shifts in migration patterns.

While quantitative modelling has become prominent in the workshop, we very much welcome qualitative research. Furthermore, we are particularly keen to discuss new approaches focussing on analysis of register data, (linked) open data and social media feeds, specialised evaluation approaches (e.g. realist evaluation) and mixed-methods designs that innovatively combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. The workshop has always maintained very high standards in the research it selects and it is intended that this approach will continue.

Future plans and activities
We welcome contributions on the ENHR 2026 Oslo conference theme ‘Housing and Prosperity in the 21st Century: Social, Spatial and Historical Inequalities’. This theme directly aligns with this working group’s focus on the social mechanisms behind and the implications of concentrated poverty and deprivation, segregation between various socio-economic groups, and broader social and spatial inequalities.

Policy implications
Many of the researchers involved in the Working Group are conducting cutting-edge research, sometimes with close involvement of policymakers. In light of the complexities of making an impact on urban policies, both locally and nationally (let alone on EU level), we feel that we need to continue or even strengthen our efforts to disseminate research findings among policymakers. We are open to suggestions on how the Working Group might facilitate impact and knowledge exchange in this area.

Other
While quantitative modelling has become prominent in the workshop, we very much welcome qualitative research. Furthermore, we are particularly keen to discuss new approaches focussing on analysis of register data, (linked) open data and social media feeds, specialised evaluation approaches (e.g. realist evaluation) and mixed-methods designs that innovatively combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. The workshop has always maintained very high standards in the research it selects and it is intended that this approach will continue.