Housing Investment: Unfulfilled Promises
The Esquerra Igualada political party has revealed that the City Council’s actual investment in housing has been significantly lower than the announced figures. Specifically, for 2023, a €500,000 allocation was announced for housing rehabilitation, but surprisingly, only €100,000 has been spent, leaving a gap of €400,000. This discrepancy represents an alarming 20% of the promised amount.
A History of Inaction
The ERC Republicans have pointed out that, over the last thirteen years, the City Council’s housing policies have been almost non-existent. The balance is bleak: in more than a decade, not a single municipal social rental home has been built, contributing to a housing crisis that affects the population with a completely insufficient supply of apartments and skyrocketing prices.
Decline in Housing Supply
The situation is complicated by the drastic drop in the supply of rental housing in Igualada. Currently, the city is recording the lowest availability of apartments for rent since real estate portals began tracking, and prices have reached historic levels. A simple search reveals that there are only nine apartments available, of which three are for temporary rental, with an average price of €827.
Young People and the Need for a Housing Future
According to a local government report on youth, 45% of young people in Igualada have expressed their intention to leave the city due to the impossibility of accessing adequate housing or a job. This reality reveals an alarming lack of interest on the part of the administration in addressing the needs of the youngest.
A Government Without Answer
ERC has recalled that the municipal government has been in power for more than thirteen years without implementing effective housing policies. In an attempt to provoke a meaningful debate, they proposed a plenary session with 28 measures that other municipalities had already adopted, including recommendations from the Catalan Ombudsman. Unfortunately, none of these proposals was accepted by the current government.
Final Reflections
The housing situation in Igualada has become a reflection of the deficiencies in municipal management and the lack of action on such a crucial issue as housing. Without a real commitment from the authorities, the population, especially the young, will be forced to seek opportunities elsewhere, leaving their hometown behind.
