€6.7m set aside to expand housing grant for low-income under 36s in Catalonia

The Catalan government has announced it will be allocating an additional €6.7m to expand access to the housing grant for low-income residents under the age of 36 from Wednesday, but only the 3,683 applicants who were eligible for aid last year but did not receive it because of a lack of funds are entitled to it.

From late last September to early October, Catalan authorities received over 28,000 applications for a total of €29m in housing grants that were meant to complement the Spanish government's "clearly insufficient" assistance, of which 13,468 were approved. 

11,226 were rejected due to lack of documentation or because they did not meet the requirements, while 3,683 simply had applied too late to receive any of the €29m the government had set aside for them. 

"With this extraordinary call we will reach 100% of eligible 2022 applicants", said Catalonia's housing secretary Marina Berasategui. These 3,683 people will now be getting a text message informing them of the new grant. 

Up to €250 for low earners under 36

The Catalan grant was initially open to anyone under the age of 36 who had either not applied for Spanish housing benefits or had been deemed ineligible as long as they earned up to €23,600 annually and rented an apartment that was no more than €950 per month or €1,100 in the case of large families. 

The grant ranges from €20 to €250 per month depending on household size and share of income spent on rent and will be paid out to the 13,468 people whose 2022 applications were approved starting this week. 

Another €29m for 2023 grant

The Catalan government expects to open applications for the 2023 housing grants in March and will once again allocate €29m towards them. 

When asked about the possibility of running out of funds again this year, Catalan Housing Agency sources said this time around they would have more time to "work more calmly and do a better job."

According to them, housing benefits for young people are a "priority" although "more structural" assistance is required to help this segment of the population.