Mass removal of over 8.5 million individuals in Spain, as reported by the Observatorio del Alquiler.
Approachable Chat: Let's dive into the pressing issue of residential exclusion in Spain, affecting a whopping 8.5 million people, or almost 18% of the population, according to the Housing Observatory's report. This figure encompasses individuals living on the streets, in public resources, or shaking their heads over substandard housing, precarious homes, or housing insecure for their personal and social development.
Sánchez Unveils 6 Billion in Loans for Affordable Housing Construction
In light of this startling reality, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently announced plans to grant 6 billion euros in loans and guarantees for building 43,000 affordable rental homes, shedding light on the government's serious intent to tackle this pressing issue.
A Deeper Look at Residential Exclusion
The residential exclusion: a broader view of the phenomenon of homelessness report reveals that for every person sleeping rough on the street or in a shelter, hundreds more are in insecure and inadequate housing. Here's a breakdown of these numbers:
- Homelessness affects 28,552 people in Spain, according to the INE's 2022 Survey of People without a Home. However, organizations like Fundación Hogar Sí and Caritas España raise the figure to around 37,000 and 42,300 people.
- Approximately 3.7 million people in Spain live in insecure housing, without enjoying the tenancy regime or under the threat of eviction, while around 4.8 million more reside in inadequate homes due to habitability problems, shantytowns, or severe overcrowding.
Half a Century of Housing Policies
The authors of the report analyzed half a century of housing policies in Spain. They point out that protected property "died at 25 years old" and discuss the brakes on the crisis, emphasizing that residential exclusion remains a significant challenge.
Women, Families, and Youth in Crisis
The observatory warns of the growth in the number of women in a situation of homelessness, who have surged from 19.7% to 23.3% over the past decade. This increase is attributed to their lesser visibility sleeping rough due to the increased risks they face, such as sexual violence or aggression.
In fact, 21% of those without a home have suffered physical or sexual attacks, according to the report. Consequently, many opt for precarious solutions such as insecure housing, rather than sleeping rough. Half of the people without a home are under 45 years old, with a greater presence of young people among foreigners (68% of those under 45 are foreign, and this increases to 83% among those under 30).
Caritas Assists 13,784 Invisible People
Despite the official statistics, charities like Caritas attend to 13,784 people without a home who are overlooked by official data. According to FOESSA data from 2018, tens of thousands of families in Spain lived in insecure tenancy or undignified conditions, and this persists even when considering those merely in a situation of residential precarity.
Social Renting as a Solution
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda reports that social housing represents around 3.3% of the housing stock, below the European average of around 8%. The observatory urges effective measures and public policies that promote social inclusion and guarantee the right to adequate housing for all citizens.
Social Renting Explained
Social renting is a rental modality of housing that aims to guarantee access to a dignified and affordable home for people or families in a situation of economic and social vulnerability who cannot afford a home in the free rental market. The price is well below market prices and is adapted to the economic capacity of tenants, often calculated as a low percentage of their income. It is intended for people or families with low incomes, unemployed, people with disabilities, victims of gender violence, dependent elderly people, or those at risk of residential exclusion.
Spain Struggles to Keep Up With Europe in Social Housing
Although social renting can be the key to accessing housing for the most vulnerable population, Spain struggles to keep up with Europe in social housing provision. Nevertheless, the report proposes residential renting as a "flexible and effective lever" for guaranteeing access to housing, thereby serving as a springboard to escape residential precarity and promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups in society.
- The residential exclusion report highlights that for every individual living on the streets or in shelters, hundreds more face insecurity and inadequacy in their personal-finance situation, residing in unsecured or inadequate housing.
- In an effort to address this issue, the Spanish government announced plans to provide 6 billion euros in loans and guarantees for the construction of affordable rental homes, which aligns with the government's aim to tackle residential exclusion and improve personal-finance stability for those in need.
