Barcelona allocates €24m for private housing to aid families struggling with housing instability

Barcelona will dedicate €24 million until 2027 to secure private housing for vulnerable families. The city council will fund the project with €6 million annually, as announced by the city's housing consortium.

The program, starting this year, aims to integrate up to 450 private properties into public emergency housing initiatives. This is the first time these grants have been carried out and will replace previous agreements with social entities that focused on capturing private housing.

According to Joan Ramon Riera, the Housing Commissioner, this funding will facilitate the transition of 450 homes from the private market to public use, ensuring that vulnerable families can access housing support. The grants will cover the difference between the market rent and the social rent paid by residents, as well as properties management expenses.

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations that own properties or have lease agreements for apartments located in Barcelona. The Emergency Table will evaluate housing emergency situations and assign social rental properties to families facing eviction with a lack of resources for new housing.

The First the Home program, which is facilitated by Barcelona’s social services, will provide immediate housing as the starting point for social inclusion for those at risk of homelessness. This approach aims to address the urgent needs of families struggling with housing instability.

The city council has set up a hotline and emergency websites for those facing emergency housing issues across the Catalan capital.