With elections just around the corner, Spain's structural housing problem begins to be present in all political speeches.
However, year after year, election after election, the same situation is repeated: Spain continues without a State Pact to tackle the difficulties of access to housing and the possibility of maintaining it for a large part of the citizenship, with the inequalities and barriers to the exercise of other fundamental rights that this causes. In order to achieve this, political unity is needed, an agreement that protects citizens' rights in the area of housing.
Spain has experienced in recent years a generalized rise in the price of renting and buying homes that does not correspond to wages. The Provivienda Association and HOGAR SÍ consider that this current model is increasingly unsustainable and that we must support the measures demanded by Europe, which would boost the economic and social welfare of people.
Our country needs to increase investment in social and affordable housing stock. A point where Spain lags behind the European average, with only 2.5% of the total housing stock, compared to 9.3% in Europe, according to data collected in the Affordable Housing Observatory, carried out by Provivienda.
In recent years, Spain has experienced a generalized rise in the price of renting and buying homes that does not correspond to salaries.
However, we still have the opportunity to position ourselves in a privileged place on the international housing map and articulate a fairer and more inclusive housing policy. But, to do so, tax incentives and support measures must be created to encourage the supply of affordable, non-profit rental housing. In addition, it is necessary to adjust rental taxation for affordable housing exchange programs, as well as to promote collaboration between the public sector and non-profit organizations to increase the availability of affordable housing, in line with the European Housing Associations.
There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift towards one that is more committed to the elderly, young people and those people and groups at risk of exclusion. A more humane model with specific programs that make it easier for people in Spain not only to have access to adequate housing, but also to maintain it. This is especially relevant given that, according to INE estimates, in 2022, there are more than 28,000 people in Spain who do not have a home. This figure could even rise to 37,000, according to HOGAR SÍ's calculations.
No one can be left behind for a good community life. Therefore, from Provivienda and HOGAR SÍ we also advocate the development of a National Deinstitutionalization Strategy that responds to the specific needs of people by putting housing at the center. Housing as a solution from which to provide care services centered on the person, guaranteeing their rights, freedom of choice, autonomy and integration into the community. Facilitating, at the end of the day, to be just another neighbor.
There is still a long way to go in Spain in the field of housing, but this cannot and should not be a fight against windmills; commitment and political consensus are needed. We need to build a national housing project that looks after the economic and social welfare of citizens. A project that will allow us to be at the forefront in Europe and of which we can be proud for not leaving anyone behind. This future is possible and Spain can be a benchmark at European level, but transformations must be carried out in the current housing model. Time is pressing.
Provivienda and HOGAR SÍ work in alliance to transform homelessness policies in Spain through the innovation projects Derechos a la vivienda and H4Y FUTURO, financed by the Next Generation EU Funds.
Gema Moreno, communications technician of Asociación Provivienda, and Clara Fuentes, advocacy and communications technician of HOGAR SÍ.
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