Presenting Research on Solidarity Networks and Refugee Housing Experiences in Ljubljana

Mojca Pajnik presented the co-authored paper Solidarity Networks and Spaces of Hope: Refugee Housing in Ljubljana, written together with Anteja Tomašič, at the international conference Integrity, Solidarity, and Unity: Hopes and Realities of the European Future, held at University College Dublin (UCD) from 15 to 18 June 2026.

The paper examines the experiences of persons under international protection in accessing housing in Ljubljana and explores how practices of solidarity emerge among refugees, civil society initiatives, and selected homeowners within these circumstances. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews, the authors analyse how everyday practices of “homing” give rise to “spaces of hope” that, despite structural barriers, foster connectedness, mutual support, and a sense of belonging. The paper argues that “homing” is a dynamic and affectively driven process shaped by emotional and solidaristic ties.

The conference also provided an opportunity to discuss the forthcoming edited volume Enacting Citizenship and Solidarity: Urban Struggles on Migration, Housing and Care in Europe, in which the chapter will be published. The book is scheduled for publication in August 2026 by Bristol University Press.