Hidden homelessness rising as rent prices in Barcelona soar, ombudsperson warns

A report by the Barcelona ombudsperson has warned that rising rent prices in the Catalan capital is contributing to "hidden homelessness", as people are left with no option but to share an apartment, often under poor living conditions. 

Barcelona has topped the list of Spain’s most expensive cities for renting an apartment since 2015, according to housing websites. 

When it comes to homelessness, people sleeping on the street every night are the most visible face of the problem, but they only account for a fraction of those who lack adequate housing—people who don’t need a roof or a bed, but a proper home.

The difficulties of buying a house or renting an entire apartment forced many people into renting a room, which the report warns is no longer a housing option only embraced by students and young people.  

According to the report, which bases its findings on data prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the price of renting a room in Barcelona increased by 2.9% in 2019. 

Single-parent families, migrants, youths, and elders

People living in "inadequate housing" are mostly single-parent families, migrants, young people, pensioners, or people over 50 years who are alone. 

The effects of lacking proper housing at an affordable price have "profound" psycho-social effects, says the report, and undermines personal autonomy, education opportunities, finding a job, and access to culture. Experts also warn of an increased risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Average rent accounts for a large part of household's income

In 2018, according to the Metropolitan Housing Observatory, a household earning 26,000 euros a year had to spend 41.2% of its income on paying an average rent. For a household earning 36,000 euros, the average rent accounted for 30% of their salary. 

On average, households living in rented apartments spend 43.5% of their income on housing, according to the observatory.