The rising cost of housing across Europe and particularly in Spain, is creating a cascade of health and social consequences, pushing vulnerable populations into precarious living situations and, increasingly, homelessness. While often framed as an economic issue, the housing crisis is demonstrably impacting physical and mental well-being, forcing individuals to make impossible choices between shelter, food, and healthcare.
Rafael Valle, a 63-year-old resident of Madrid, exemplifies this growing trend. Forced to leave his lifelong neighborhood due to escalating rental prices following his divorce and the onset of a health condition that ended his career as a machinist in 2018, Valle now shares accommodation in Valencia with roommates. His monthly pension of 760 euros is insufficient to secure independent housing in the capital. “I found the jungle,” he stated, describing the rental market, “in 2019 for an apartment they were already asking for more than 1,000 euros a month, now a bunk bed costs 600. Here’s a waste of life and it destroys many people.”
Data released in January indicates a year-on-year increase of 8.1% in rental prices across Spain, according to the Idealista real estate portal. Madrid remains the most expensive province, with an average rental cost of 21.1 euros per square meter, followed by Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, and Guipúzcoa. The cost of purchasing property is also soaring, with the average price per square meter in Madrid reaching 4,241 euros, as reported by the College of Registrars based on data.
The situation is not unique to Madrid. Valle’s experience of being priced out of one city and forced to seek more affordable options elsewhere mirrors a broader pattern. After a brief attempt to relocate to Cádiz, his parents’ hometown, he found his rental costs increased by nearly 80% when his lease ended in . This led him to explore shared housing options, eventually finding a place through the “Shared Homes” program in the Valencian Community. This program offers individuals over 60 the opportunity to live in shared accommodation at a cost not exceeding 35% of their income, capped at 345 euros.
Andrea Miquel, a social worker with Shared Homes, explains that the program currently supports 62 individuals in 16 homes, largely provided by landlords willing to offer reasonable rents. Eligibility criteria include age, financial need, and the ability to live independently. While the homes are supervised, they are not heavily monitored, and residency is indefinite. The program received applications from 600 people in , highlighting the significant unmet need. “We cannot support them all, the Administration must come up with a solution,” Miquel asserts.
The impact of housing instability extends beyond financial strain. Nieves Cortés, 62, experienced a similar displacement from her family home in Mostoles (Madrid) after her divorce in . She eventually found a room to rent in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, but faced increasing rental costs and, the loss of her housing after the property owner decided to live in the property. She now shares a house with 12 other people in Madrid, a situation she describes as akin to living in a hotel, with limited privacy and shared amenities.
Cortés, who receives a disability pension of 860 euros, highlights the ageism she encountered while searching for housing. “They only accepted students or young workers who spent a lot of time away from home,” she explained. She emphasizes the emotional toll of displacement, stating, “I thought I would have a house where my grandchildren would come on Sundays, but many times I end the month eating because my little son leaves me money. But hey, no one has the life they plan.”
The Madrid City Council’s Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Public Services Survey reflects growing public concern, with 57.6% of citizens citing housing as one of the three most important problems facing the city – a significant increase from 37.5% the previous year. This underscores the widespread impact of the crisis and the increasing pressure on local authorities to find solutions.
The situation is further complicated by the rise of short-term rentals and speculation, particularly in tourist hotspots like Barcelona. As reported in , rents in Spain have increased by up to 80% in the past decade, fueled by a combination of limited housing supply, inflated construction costs, and the proliferation of short-term rental platforms. This has led to the displacement of long-term residents and the erosion of community cohesion.
The experiences of Valle, Cortés, and countless others underscore the urgent need for comprehensive housing policies that address affordability, availability, and security of tenure. While initiatives like Shared Homes offer a temporary respite for some, a systemic solution is required to prevent further displacement and mitigate the associated health and social consequences. The lack of affordable housing is not merely an economic issue; We see a public health crisis with far-reaching implications for individuals and communities across Spain and beyond.
