<p>The construction sector accounts for nearly half of global material extraction and waste production, prompting the need for sustainable practices such as material reuse. However, the widespread adoption of reuse faces several practical challenges, compounded by a limited understanding of the existing material stock and its reuse potential. This study examines the material use and reuse potential of Flemish social housing neighborhoods. Using a bottom-up approach, 23 social housing neighborhoods comprising 1876 dwellings built between 1945 and 2005 are investigated. A database containing information on the material use of these dwellings is established based on primary building information and site visits. Analyzing this database reveals the distribution and temporal shifts in material types within the elements of the building envelope (slab on grade, façade and roof). It highlights trends such as the shift from solid to hollow clay bricks, the increasing use of concrete blocks, and the gradual introduction of insulation. Furthermore, a case study investigates the reuse potential of social housing, by on-site dismantling tests and analysis of the reduction in embodied mass and CO₂-emissions. Finishing materials such as cement tiles and façade bricks can be effectively salvaged, with minimal material losses. Reusing tiles and bricks could save 12.3% of the building's mass and reduce CO₂-emissions by 18.8%, underlining the environmental benefits of material recovery. By leveraging the existing housing stock, the construction sector can achieve significant resource efficiency and waste reduction.</p>