Dialogue between the Government and the Opposition
The Barcelona City Council has begun to establish dialogues with opposition parties with the aim of reforming a regulation that stipulates that 30% of new real estate developments must be allocated to subsidized housing. Laia Bonet, first deputy mayor, presented this initiative during an interview on the TVE program ‘Cafè d’idees’.
The Need for Change
Bonet emphasized the importance of finding consensus among political forces in order to move forward with the modification of the measure. He admitted that the current regulations are not meeting their objectives and that, to maintain them, it is essential to implement changes.
Call to Action
In her speech, the first deputy mayor made a special appeal to BComú, which currently defends the continuity of the measure. Bonet pointed out that ‘renouncing to modify the 30% is equivalent to giving up on subsidized housing’.
Alarming Facts about Sheltered Housing
According to recent data, since the approval of the standard in 2018, around 2,000 subsidized homes should have been built, but currently only 23 have been completed. Bonet pointed out that ‘the pace of construction has decreased drastically’, which has led to the need to rethink strategies.
Reform Proposals
The government is considering several modifications to the existing rule, such as the possibility of moving subsidized housing to other plots within the same district or neighboring neighborhoods, as well as allowing social developers to participate in the construction of these homes. In addition, limiting the application of the rule to specific cases of major rehabilitations is being discussed.
Reaction to Criticism
In relation to the criticism received for the recent acquisition of Casa Orsola, Bonet defended the decision, stating that the necessary conditions for the operation were met, including the vulnerability of the residents and the availability of the building, which contains empty apartments and was offered below market price.
A New Vision of Vulnerability
Bonet stressed that the concept of vulnerability must be expanded: ‘It cannot be limited to income issues. Nowadays, losing a home in Barcelona means being in a situation of vulnerability,’ he concluded, highlighting the need for a deep review of housing policies.
