KOVA IN BRIEF
Finnish Affordable Housing Companies’ Federation – KOVA is a national umbrella association for non-profit rental and right of occupancy housing companies and foundations in Finland.
KOVA was established in 2013 to strengthen the lobbying of non-profit housing companies and foundations. Our mission is to gather all the Finnish non-profit housing companies and foundations together. Our goal is to create permanent conditions for production of affordable housing in Finland.
KOVA has 135 members that own, maintain and build affordable and state subsidized rental and right of occupancy houses all over Finland. As members we have municipally owned housing companies and foundations, and other non-profit housing companies and foundations as members. Some of our members offers also affordable housing for special groups such as elderly persons and handicapped persons. Our members’ ownership covers over 330 000 rental and right of occupancy apartments – over 80 percentage of all state subsidized rental dwellings which have state limitations in Finland and around 85 percentage of right of occupancy apartments.
LOBBYING
Through diverse relations to civil servants, politicians and other organizations which have housing on their agenda, KOVA is a leading lobbyist and expert in rental and right of occupancy housing.
Already in its early state KOVA has established a position, where it is consulted directly over draft legislation affecting its members´ interests. KOVA also takes actively initiatives to change legislation.
SERVICES FOR MEMBERS
KOVA serves its members in many ways. We are specialized in lobbying. Our goal is to create an operational environment which enables permanent usage of affordable rental houses and right of occupancy houses in Finland.
We also organize schooling, seminars and study visits. We communicate to our members about topical issues which effect on rental and right of occupancy housing companies’ operation. Our members can also participate to international activities. Our membership enables networking within rental housing companies’ personnel as well as other players in housing policy.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
KOVA is a member of Housing Nordic (NBO). NBO is a non-profit association for non-profit companies, foundations and cooperatives in the Nordic Countries. More information about NBO can be found through their website.
KOVA is also a member of Housing Europe. Housing Europe is an European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing. More information about Housing Europe can be found through their website.
CONTACT INFORMATION
- Finnish Affordable Housing Companies’ Federation – KOVA
- Yliopistonkatu 5, 7th floor, FI-00100 Helsinki, FINLAND
- tel. +358 50 406 6611
- email: firstname.surname@kovary.fi
CEO Jouni Parkkonen
Legal Counsel Vilma Pihlaja
Economist Eetu Kauria
Technical Director Sami Ylenius
Communications Specialist Katriina Lius