Measures to address the housing emergency and shortage

At the end of 2024, the Catalan Sectoral Territorial Housing Plan (PTSH) was approved, the instrument of the Government of Catalonia for long-term planning and programming of housing policies. To learn more about the proposal, ARA, in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia, has organized a series of roundtables focused on housing. With the aim of assessing the proposed measures and future challenges, on December 17th, under the title "Housing Aid Currently Offered by the Government of Catalonia," journalist Laura López joined Luisa Fernanda Pinto, a lawyer specializing in urban planning law and housing expert for the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB), and Karen Ortega, a researcher in the Housing and Demography group at the Center for Demographic Studies affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

The speakers agreed that these policies are necessary, given that, according to data from the Center for Demographic Studies in Catalonia, there are approximately 3 million households, 50,000 new ones are created each year, and the recent annual construction rate does not exceed 14,000 homes. "The comprehensive structure created by the plan includes incentives for supply, demand, and rehabilitation. It is a more reactive than preventive response, which is understandable considering that the housing deficit is compounded by migration, the increase in separations, and the emergence of new household structures," Ortega pointed out. Pinto believes these are essential subsidies that should be maintained and increased until a stable stock of affordable housing is established. "Furthermore, it is necessary to work in a coordinated manner at different levels of government, adopting a metropolitan vision that addresses the needs of the entire territory. A broader, multi-level, and systemic approach is required," asserted the PEMB housing representative.

Emancipation loans and emergency housing aid

Among the various forms of assistance is the emancipation loan for young people aged 18 to 35 who want to buy their first home, designed to ease the initial financial burden. Ortega noted that, although it's too early to assess its impact, the program has been in effect since June 30th and represents an interesting path toward increasing the housing supply. These homes are permanently protected; for the first three years, they cannot be sold or rented. After 30 years—when 80% of the property will have been paid for—the loan must be repaid with zero interest. If the buyer decides to sell, the sale price must be the purchase price plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. "It's not just individual assistance; it also benefits the entire housing stock because it helps it grow. It represents a shift in mindset, making the buyer a co-responsible citizen. It's a complete paradigm shift from what was being done until now, which was subsidizing purely speculative purchases," Pinto points out.

To address the increase in severe housing exclusion, the Government has developed a series of emergency benefits that can be requested through social housing mediation centers and local housing offices. These benefits cover rent arrears, mortgage payments, and situations of homelessness. "These measures aim to respond to the growing reality of vulnerability," commented Ortega.

Future Challenges

The researcher from the Center for Demographic Studies believes that several elements are needed to address future challenges. Firstly, there is a need for all the necessary information to ensure effective management of the housing problem. Secondly, various measures are needed to strengthen the housing supply, especially considering that non-profit organizations require more substantial tax, financial, and urban planning incentives.

Despite acknowledging the considerable effort the Government has made in terms of aid, Pinto believes a systemic rethink is necessary: "We have a discontinuous and territorially fragmented aid system that doesn't allow for long-term planning by either the Administration or the public. That's why the calls for applications should be more frequent." She also considers it essential to simplify procedures, improve efficiency, and ensure that housing aid is compatible with other social benefits within the system, reviewing potential incompatibilities and associated tax burdens. Both experts agreed that aid must be accompanied by a larger stock of affordable housing, both for ownership and rental, as well as for rehabilitation. They also advocate combining different measures and conducting a public evaluation during and after program implementation to determine their impact in various areas—territorial, health, and social—in addition to strengthening the human resources team responsible for monitoring and implementing the aid.