July 28, 2025 • 24 mins
🎙️ Join us in this episode of ALDA Podcast “Shades of Democracy,” as we explore why housing is more than just shelter — it’s a cornerstone of democratic participation.
Our guest Maite Arrondo, member of ALDA’s Advisory Board and long-time advocate for social justice, shares powerful insights on the current housing crisis and what must change at both the EU and local levels.From street interviews in Brussels to policy recommendations made at the Civil Society Week 2025, this episode uncovers the urgent need to treat housing as a human right, not a commodity.đźŹ
Tune in to hear how communities across Europe are pushing for housing justice — and why democracy begins at home.
Useful links:
Maite’s article – “Housing as a Human Right” ➡️ https://bit.ly/3UzIBzQÂ
ALDA at Civil Society Week 2025 ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lNW4QvÂ
Listen on ALDA’s website ➡️ https://www.alda-europe.eu/alda-podcast/
Our guest Maite Arrondo, member of ALDA’s Advisory Board and long-time advocate for social justice, shares powerful insights on the current housing crisis and what must change at both the EU and local levels.From street interviews in Brussels to policy recommendations made at the Civil Society Week 2025, this episode uncovers the urgent need to treat housing as a human right, not a commodity.đźŹ
Tune in to hear how communities across Europe are pushing for housing justice — and why democracy begins at home.
Useful links:
Maite’s article – “Housing as a Human Right” ➡️ https://bit.ly/3UzIBzQÂ
ALDA at Civil Society Week 2025 ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lNW4QvÂ
Listen on ALDA’s website ➡️ https://www.alda-europe.eu/alda-podcast/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Welcome to Shapes of Democracy, the podcast where we explore
democracy in all its forms, from the people shaping it
behind the scenes to those fighting for it on the ground.
I am an As Needy from ALDUS communication team and
I will be your host. Today's episode is all about
something essential, urgent and deeply political. Housing. At these years
(00:43):
Civil Society Week, organized by the European Economic and Social Committee,
housing was one of the most discussed issues, not just
as a policy challenge, but as a matter of democratic rights.
With us today is someone who brought this debate right
to the heart of Mighty Rondo, member of alda's advisory
board and a strong voice for social justice, inclusion and
(01:06):
local empowerment. Hello Mighty, and welcome to Shades of Democracy.
It's really great to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Hello, thank you very much for the invitation.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you were a speaking of the Civil Society Week,
as we were saying, and you brought forward a clear message.
Housing can be seen either as a human right or
as a market commodity, depending on whether one views it
through a legal or economic lens, and the challenge is
to find the right balance.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So why did you feel it was important to raise
this at EU level? Right now.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Unfortunately, housing has become very trendy because now we are
all across Europe, we are witnessing how homelessness is becoming
increasingly a big issue, is growing at seven percent annually
according to Fianza.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Across a you every year, more and more people are
living in.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
The streets and finding harder to find a house. And
also housing is becoming less affordable for many Europeans, mainly
young people, immigrants and vulnerable people mostly those are the
groups that have the hardest time finding an affordable house,
an affordable home. When housing affects your life such in
(02:25):
a great way and has saw severe impacts on the
quality of life of so many Europeans, this has brought
the topic rights into the agenda and that explains why
housing has become now very trendy topic in the U
agenda for the first time because this was boiling at
(02:49):
local level and have been scaled up until the U level.
For the first time European Union has recognized how and
it's addressing housing housing because the social impact that the
housing situation has and that brings along the debates not
(03:10):
only about the funding, the financialization, the finance schemes and lens,
grants and so on, which was the traditional debates going
on about housing at new level.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
But now for the first.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Time we are talking about housing and how these impacts
in people life and housing and this is and this
is new, and this has been brought up and pushed
by civil society organizations and cities, mostly at the forefront
of the European agenda. So the confrontation between housing as
(03:47):
a right as an asset is finally there at last,
people like me that we have been working at local
level for years claiming that housing is a big issue
that is impact in making life of.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
The citizens at local level harder.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Now it's hurt at the European Union level because now
the middle class is really the children and the young
people of the middle class are starting to feel the
impact of that problem, and that has brought up the
issue at the new level.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Finally.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
That's very good insight and we're happy that it's finally
there and finally being discussed and hoping to see more
concrete results coming from this discussion at your level.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And not only and since.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
You brought up the topic of the social impact of
this topic, we also went into the streets of Brussels
in this case, to ask people what housing.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Means to them and whether they feel their right to
housing is protected.
Speaker 6 (05:01):
I'm from Germany, Frankfurt.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
I'm from Italy, Italy, Okay, we are from Denmark.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
What does it mean right to housing?
Speaker 4 (05:09):
To you?
Speaker 8 (05:10):
The right is that you can to an ordinary celary,
you can buy a house.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I just wanted to ask you if you or someone
you know have ever struggled with finding a secure and
affordable housing.
Speaker 8 (05:23):
Yeah, the rents are high here, I think for students,
especially because I'm students. But I was kind of lucky
I found rent in twenty twenty one. But I think
it continues to rise, so it's kind of an issue.
Speaker 9 (05:38):
The price is increased, and I mean back buy to rent,
it's anxiety and to rent especially in cities, of course,
and it's not easier I guess to access to mortgage
with Marc.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
They would require a lot of guarantee.
Speaker 10 (05:58):
And I mean as a young people, I mean they're
not young, They're not even that young. Yeah we are,
I mean in our thirty five almost four, Y mean
still not super erazy.
Speaker 11 (06:12):
Well, the housing pricing is super expensive here and not
everyone can afford it, particularly not a students or the trainee.
I mean I moved here five years ago and the
shared room was for fifteen Now it's at least six hundred,
so it's quite difficult to afford it.
Speaker 7 (06:27):
We were looking for a house for almost six years
six months, sorry, but finally we rented something not affordable,
because that's how we found.
Speaker 12 (06:38):
Living in the one of the most expressive expensive city
in the world, which is Kinchesa. And life is not
fair so far as like you know, what's the housing
is concerned. So you have like you know, you don't
have a middle ground. You have either you know it's
poor or you know it's rich.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
I think, especially in Frankfurt, the housing prices are really
high because it's such a local city with big airport.
So I think that's especially for students to hire to
pay when you're like having a small job and studying.
So I think that's not really fair to them, especially students.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So those are the kinds of voices we hear all
across Europe.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Stories like this are exactly why democratic participation must go
hand in hand with housing justice.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Do you have any comments on this?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean it's a European pleedge. I mean it's.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Something some people say that this is an European problem,
but most of the of the competencies still rely at
state level, and the practical means to make it to
enforce this are at local level. So it's a quite
complex challenge to solve because it's very intergovernment mentaled and
(08:00):
as well divided and split into different areas. So it's
quite a challenging problem.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yes, and maybe correct me if I'm wrong, But the
impression I have is that some people also try to
stay positive and think that maybe it's not that the
local or you level governments are not doing enough, maybe
it's not that they're perceiving it. But I think that
in both cases, even when local governments are doing something,
and if it's not perceived by the end users in
(08:33):
these case citizens, then we still have a problem at
this level too.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Right, So first, I mean, housing is a policy that
takes years to change. If you implement policism, I mean
you cannot build a house in a in one year,
and if you make plans, the impact of these policies
are going to take quite a long term time to
(08:56):
make it to realize. However, that are a combination between
short term and mid term and long term initiatives that
can be implemented, and all of them need require the
alignment of the different levels and this has not been
done before. For instance, now at youw level cities that
(09:17):
we're the ones that first were demanding and we're pressing
full housing to be tackled by the European Union seriously
as a very problematic issue within their contexts.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
These are raising how many challenges they face.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
They are not consulted enough, They don't have direct funding,
they have many challenges to access the funding. The directives
they have to implement there too and so on are
not consulted with them first or in the consultation process.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So to a great extend, cities which.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Are the ones that are closer to the citizens, but
also the ones that are have more capacity to enforce
all these measures that are needed are not taken unheard
enough by the at EU level and that's traditional and
demands that now it's being shared by a wide area
(10:22):
of city secrets Europe, Barcelona, Amstdan, Rome and Sagreb. Many
many city secrets Europe.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And also in your intervention you laid out a set
of policy recommendations.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Could you welco us through the key proposals that you made.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Please yeah sure.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
When I was talking about short term measures, we can
think of, for instance, brand regulations which are becoming trendy
and are things that are not new in many cities.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Secrets up in Paris, in Berlin, they are already set
up there for many many.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Years, and they are quite sophisticated, not like the old
versions of friend freezes and things like that that we're
from the fiftext. Now they have much more updated and
new versions, much more flexibles, and that capture the market
much better than these from original ones that may not
(11:26):
fix anything, but to some extent extent they alleviate the
pressure on those people that are facing the hardest situation,
which are the people living on rerental, the people that
live on drental. There is like a standard that those
that that detect their incomes in more than thirty percent
(11:55):
to pay their renters their houses and related costs of
the houses are under economic stress or housings of aboden
and the number of populations living on brental that are
increasingly paying more and more of their income to cover
(12:18):
this kind of cost is growing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
At a speed which is unbearable. In Europe.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
For instance, the record, I mean the in the country
with the biggest amount of people paying more up to
forty of their income US for the rent is Spain.
And in cities like Barcelona with thirty eight percent of
the population living on brental.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
That's a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
That's a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
And the people who are living on brental it's because
they can most most of the cases is because they
cannot access to buy a house, because they don't have
the savings, because they don't get the money from the
bank and so on. And this kind of population population
is young people, it's migrants, and it's vulnerable people. Yeah,
(13:15):
and among these vulnerable people mostly women. Women are as
usual most of the people within all these groups. And
all the measures that that that are being designed and
discuss should take to be based and to be uh
design recognizing this, this, this this phenomenon, this problem. Besides,
(13:41):
now in the European Union, the number of people living
on reental is growing growing at a speed which with
no with with no reference mean, the highest ever. And
also while this is going on, we find out that
more in most countries in Europe we hardly have organize
(14:02):
union of tenants, there is an organization that can voice
and can demind the situation and can make a lobby
for the stability and the well being and to avoid
the abuses against the people living in tenants.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
This is very important. This phenomenon is not local.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I mean, it is not of a single countries all
over Europe, and it's affecting them, these groups of people
the most.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Thank you very much. So many interesting insights and so
many things to.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
React to, and I definitely agree and see myself also
involved in many of these points. And this also brings
us to the social impact of this kind of topic.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
As you said in the beginning, one quote.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Specifically from your speech really stuck with us, and I'd
like to repeat it here. We must rebalance the find
acial rights dimensions of housing to me the urgent needs
of Europe's most vulnerable citizens. You already like partially answered,
but if you want to add more, why is it
is that balance so critical in your opinion.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
To a great extent when the EU, especially I mean
where this was discussing, and this discussing housing, most of
the profiles of the people working or designing these kind
of instruments or had an economic background and they were
thinking in market logic. For instance, most of the debates
(15:37):
now on the affordable housing plan, the European Affordable Housing
Plan that's been discussed and that will be released in
the last quarter of this year, they are talking about
affordable housing. But what is affordable housing because most of
the experts there they are referring to affordable with reference
to the market prices, to make housing on build housing
(16:01):
under market price and things like that. But I believe
this not should be the focus. The focus should be
the housing needs of the population, to provide housing at
a price that people can actually pay. What are the
people that are capacity to and and and what kind
(16:22):
of the profile of the people that that that need
to access housing? And that should be the focus the need,
not the market and and and we should start to
push to change that that rhetoric. Also, when we talk
about housing, I cannot stop. But I mean, I think
(16:42):
it's it's interlinked and and and it's related. Housing and
homelessness are two sides of the same coin. And housing
access and the housing evictions evictions because the inability to
pay the rental is becoming the growing elements of people,
(17:06):
the growing driver of people that end up homeless. This
was not before most of the people thought that people
live in people Homeless people where people that have other
kind of problems psychological, alcoholic additions, whatever. But now most
of the people that is homelessness. One of the key
(17:28):
drivers are that they cannot afford to pay the rent rents. Also,
this highlights the importance of social housing. Social housing that
requires strong investments and to be orientated to those most
vulnerable populations, but also to think of affordable housing for
(17:55):
them meat income level. We ensuld diversify and start to
think about different elements, different kinds of housings that need
the demand of the different groups of the population.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
And do you feel the European Union institutions or the
local government are doing enough to secure the right to
house into everyone.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
As a foreigner. I think no, they're not what should
be done. I hope everything will be fixed in the future.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
I hope yes.
Speaker 9 (18:38):
I mean an institution, any political institution that I mean
want to preserve a young class of workers, should should
do something.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I mean should put.
Speaker 9 (18:50):
The people also because I mean we are facing democracy,
the sorry also democracy sometimes uh, the demographic crisis. So
if they want people to have babies for example, and
of course you first need a house and or at
least accessible rental if you don't want by.
Speaker 11 (19:11):
Definitely, on the European level, more should be done to
support trainees and young people moving to support their mobility
as well. There should be additional funds on that, and
we are talking now about Erasmud was also about additional fundings,
like a scholarship of five hundred euro to move to
Bussels for our internship.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
It's nothing, Yeah, they can, so I don't know how,
but like there's a couple of things that they could
do to help students or people that have such a
high income to like do more and help them because
housing is such important. Maybe like do like communities where
they can live for like people students like more for
(19:48):
also colleges like that they give more money to colleges
for students to live in there or to make that
less expensive.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
Yeah, I think it should be more than national responsibility.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So also that the EU opin.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Union is more intervening and OK.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
And I also take this opportunity to invite our listeners
to let us know their opinion or any comment they
have on the issue and if they feel there's more
needs on their side. That they are not being hurt.
That's also interesting for us. And since you mentioned the
European Affordable Housing Plan that's under discussion in the EU.
(20:29):
From your perspective and also our theest perspectives is you're
in our advisory board. What should you policymakers keep in
mind because you mentioned that they're focusing more on the
affordable housing and maybe that's not what they should only
focus about. So more specifically, what should they keep in mind?
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Well, things like long term affordability, permanent affordability, social housing
and affordable housing should be addressed as a key in
fresh social infrastructures, and in that way they should include
conditions and requirements for this to be in the long
(21:08):
term affordable.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
This is basic. This is something quite basic in countries
like Austria, they don't think it in other ways, but
in most Europe this is not the case. Unfortunately.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Also affordable and social keep the priorities well established. I
mean first the ones that needed the most and second
middle income. So prioritize properly according to the needs. I
think this is quite important, and also include as well
(21:44):
clauses and conditions they did to corruption. Unfortunately, housing sector
and construction sector is very closely linked with corruption practices,
and I believe there are any ways the European Union,
together with national level and local level, can include these
(22:06):
kind of clauses that avoid corruption to get involved in
construction that much, and I think they have that capacity
to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And I would also suggest that the opinion to be
a bit.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Courageous and support projects and ways to access housing that
from the very core structure and mediation are thought to
avoid the speculation.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Thank you very much and thank you for joining us
and especially for your powerful.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Call to action.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
One thing is clear I would say is that housing
is more than a shelter, whether it's the infrastructure for democracy,
and this I think it's important to keep in mind.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
So thanks once.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Again and also to our listeners. If you'd like to
know more about all this work, both during the Civil
Society Week this year and about Mighty's intervention and speech,
you can find all the useful links below under this episode.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
This was Shades of Democracy.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe and
share with someone who believes in the power of local voices.
You can find our podcast on Spotify, Sprecker Apple podcasts,
Amazon Music are Heart Radio easier and of course on
Aldos website. Thank you very much, mighty, and bye bye
Welcome to Shapes of Democracy, the podcast where we explore
democracy in all its forms, from the people shaping it
behind the scenes to those fighting for it on the ground.
I am an As Needy from ALDUS communication team and
I will be your host. Today's episode is all about
something essential, urgent and deeply political. Housing. At these years
(00:43):
Civil Society Week, organized by the European Economic and Social Committee,
housing was one of the most discussed issues, not just
as a policy challenge, but as a matter of democratic rights.
With us today is someone who brought this debate right
to the heart of Mighty Rondo, member of alda's advisory
board and a strong voice for social justice, inclusion and
(01:06):
local empowerment. Hello Mighty, and welcome to Shades of Democracy.
It's really great to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Hello, thank you very much for the invitation.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you were a speaking of the Civil Society Week,
as we were saying, and you brought forward a clear message.
Housing can be seen either as a human right or
as a market commodity, depending on whether one views it
through a legal or economic lens, and the challenge is
to find the right balance.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So why did you feel it was important to raise
this at EU level? Right now.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Unfortunately, housing has become very trendy because now we are
all across Europe, we are witnessing how homelessness is becoming
increasingly a big issue, is growing at seven percent annually
according to Fianza.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Across a you every year, more and more people are
living in.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
The streets and finding harder to find a house. And
also housing is becoming less affordable for many Europeans, mainly
young people, immigrants and vulnerable people mostly those are the
groups that have the hardest time finding an affordable house,
an affordable home. When housing affects your life such in
(02:25):
a great way and has saw severe impacts on the
quality of life of so many Europeans, this has brought
the topic rights into the agenda and that explains why
housing has become now very trendy topic in the U
agenda for the first time because this was boiling at
(02:49):
local level and have been scaled up until the U level.
For the first time European Union has recognized how and
it's addressing housing housing because the social impact that the
housing situation has and that brings along the debates not
(03:10):
only about the funding, the financialization, the finance schemes and lens,
grants and so on, which was the traditional debates going
on about housing at new level.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
But now for the first.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Time we are talking about housing and how these impacts
in people life and housing and this is and this
is new, and this has been brought up and pushed
by civil society organizations and cities, mostly at the forefront
of the European agenda. So the confrontation between housing as
(03:47):
a right as an asset is finally there at last,
people like me that we have been working at local
level for years claiming that housing is a big issue
that is impact in making life of.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
The citizens at local level harder.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Now it's hurt at the European Union level because now
the middle class is really the children and the young
people of the middle class are starting to feel the
impact of that problem, and that has brought up the
issue at the new level.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Finally.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
That's very good insight and we're happy that it's finally
there and finally being discussed and hoping to see more
concrete results coming from this discussion at your level.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
And not only and since.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
You brought up the topic of the social impact of
this topic, we also went into the streets of Brussels
in this case, to ask people what housing.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Means to them and whether they feel their right to
housing is protected.
Speaker 6 (05:01):
I'm from Germany, Frankfurt.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
I'm from Italy, Italy, Okay, we are from Denmark.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
What does it mean right to housing?
Speaker 4 (05:09):
To you?
Speaker 8 (05:10):
The right is that you can to an ordinary celary,
you can buy a house.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I just wanted to ask you if you or someone
you know have ever struggled with finding a secure and
affordable housing.
Speaker 8 (05:23):
Yeah, the rents are high here, I think for students,
especially because I'm students. But I was kind of lucky
I found rent in twenty twenty one. But I think
it continues to rise, so it's kind of an issue.
Speaker 9 (05:38):
The price is increased, and I mean back buy to rent,
it's anxiety and to rent especially in cities, of course,
and it's not easier I guess to access to mortgage
with Marc.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
They would require a lot of guarantee.
Speaker 10 (05:58):
And I mean as a young people, I mean they're
not young, They're not even that young. Yeah we are,
I mean in our thirty five almost four, Y mean
still not super erazy.
Speaker 11 (06:12):
Well, the housing pricing is super expensive here and not
everyone can afford it, particularly not a students or the trainee.
I mean I moved here five years ago and the
shared room was for fifteen Now it's at least six hundred,
so it's quite difficult to afford it.
Speaker 7 (06:27):
We were looking for a house for almost six years
six months, sorry, but finally we rented something not affordable,
because that's how we found.
Speaker 12 (06:38):
Living in the one of the most expressive expensive city
in the world, which is Kinchesa. And life is not
fair so far as like you know, what's the housing
is concerned. So you have like you know, you don't
have a middle ground. You have either you know it's
poor or you know it's rich.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
I think, especially in Frankfurt, the housing prices are really
high because it's such a local city with big airport.
So I think that's especially for students to hire to
pay when you're like having a small job and studying.
So I think that's not really fair to them, especially students.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So those are the kinds of voices we hear all
across Europe.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Stories like this are exactly why democratic participation must go
hand in hand with housing justice.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Do you have any comments on this?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean it's a European pleedge. I mean it's.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Something some people say that this is an European problem,
but most of the of the competencies still rely at
state level, and the practical means to make it to
enforce this are at local level. So it's a quite
complex challenge to solve because it's very intergovernment mentaled and
(08:00):
as well divided and split into different areas. So it's
quite a challenging problem.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yes, and maybe correct me if I'm wrong, But the
impression I have is that some people also try to
stay positive and think that maybe it's not that the
local or you level governments are not doing enough, maybe
it's not that they're perceiving it. But I think that
in both cases, even when local governments are doing something,
and if it's not perceived by the end users in
(08:33):
these case citizens, then we still have a problem at
this level too.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Right, So first, I mean, housing is a policy that
takes years to change. If you implement policism, I mean
you cannot build a house in a in one year,
and if you make plans, the impact of these policies
are going to take quite a long term time to
(08:56):
make it to realize. However, that are a combination between
short term and mid term and long term initiatives that
can be implemented, and all of them need require the
alignment of the different levels and this has not been
done before. For instance, now at youw level cities that
(09:17):
we're the ones that first were demanding and we're pressing
full housing to be tackled by the European Union seriously
as a very problematic issue within their contexts.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
These are raising how many challenges they face.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
They are not consulted enough, They don't have direct funding,
they have many challenges to access the funding. The directives
they have to implement there too and so on are
not consulted with them first or in the consultation process.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So to a great extend, cities which.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Are the ones that are closer to the citizens, but
also the ones that are have more capacity to enforce
all these measures that are needed are not taken unheard
enough by the at EU level and that's traditional and
demands that now it's being shared by a wide area
(10:22):
of city secrets Europe, Barcelona, Amstdan, Rome and Sagreb. Many
many city secrets Europe.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And also in your intervention you laid out a set
of policy recommendations.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Could you welco us through the key proposals that you made.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Please yeah sure.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
When I was talking about short term measures, we can
think of, for instance, brand regulations which are becoming trendy
and are things that are not new in many cities.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Secrets up in Paris, in Berlin, they are already set
up there for many many.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Years, and they are quite sophisticated, not like the old
versions of friend freezes and things like that that we're
from the fiftext. Now they have much more updated and
new versions, much more flexibles, and that capture the market
much better than these from original ones that may not
(11:26):
fix anything, but to some extent extent they alleviate the
pressure on those people that are facing the hardest situation,
which are the people living on rerental, the people that
live on drental. There is like a standard that those
that that detect their incomes in more than thirty percent
(11:55):
to pay their renters their houses and related costs of
the houses are under economic stress or housings of aboden
and the number of populations living on brental that are
increasingly paying more and more of their income to cover
(12:18):
this kind of cost is growing.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
At a speed which is unbearable. In Europe.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
For instance, the record, I mean the in the country
with the biggest amount of people paying more up to
forty of their income US for the rent is Spain.
And in cities like Barcelona with thirty eight percent of
the population living on brental.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
That's a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
That's a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
And the people who are living on brental it's because
they can most most of the cases is because they
cannot access to buy a house, because they don't have
the savings, because they don't get the money from the
bank and so on. And this kind of population population
is young people, it's migrants, and it's vulnerable people. Yeah,
(13:15):
and among these vulnerable people mostly women. Women are as
usual most of the people within all these groups. And
all the measures that that that are being designed and
discuss should take to be based and to be uh
design recognizing this, this, this this phenomenon, this problem. Besides,
(13:41):
now in the European Union, the number of people living
on reental is growing growing at a speed which with
no with with no reference mean, the highest ever. And
also while this is going on, we find out that
more in most countries in Europe we hardly have organize
(14:02):
union of tenants, there is an organization that can voice
and can demind the situation and can make a lobby
for the stability and the well being and to avoid
the abuses against the people living in tenants.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
This is very important. This phenomenon is not local.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I mean, it is not of a single countries all
over Europe, and it's affecting them, these groups of people
the most.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Thank you very much. So many interesting insights and so
many things to.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
React to, and I definitely agree and see myself also
involved in many of these points. And this also brings
us to the social impact of this kind of topic.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
As you said in the beginning, one quote.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
Specifically from your speech really stuck with us, and I'd
like to repeat it here. We must rebalance the find
acial rights dimensions of housing to me the urgent needs
of Europe's most vulnerable citizens. You already like partially answered,
but if you want to add more, why is it
is that balance so critical in your opinion.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
To a great extent when the EU, especially I mean
where this was discussing, and this discussing housing, most of
the profiles of the people working or designing these kind
of instruments or had an economic background and they were
thinking in market logic. For instance, most of the debates
(15:37):
now on the affordable housing plan, the European Affordable Housing
Plan that's been discussed and that will be released in
the last quarter of this year, they are talking about
affordable housing. But what is affordable housing because most of
the experts there they are referring to affordable with reference
to the market prices, to make housing on build housing
(16:01):
under market price and things like that. But I believe
this not should be the focus. The focus should be
the housing needs of the population, to provide housing at
a price that people can actually pay. What are the
people that are capacity to and and and what kind
(16:22):
of the profile of the people that that that need
to access housing? And that should be the focus the need,
not the market and and and we should start to
push to change that that rhetoric. Also, when we talk
about housing, I cannot stop. But I mean, I think
(16:42):
it's it's interlinked and and and it's related. Housing and
homelessness are two sides of the same coin. And housing
access and the housing evictions evictions because the inability to
pay the rental is becoming the growing elements of people,
(17:06):
the growing driver of people that end up homeless. This
was not before most of the people thought that people
live in people Homeless people where people that have other
kind of problems psychological, alcoholic additions, whatever. But now most
of the people that is homelessness. One of the key
(17:28):
drivers are that they cannot afford to pay the rent rents. Also,
this highlights the importance of social housing. Social housing that
requires strong investments and to be orientated to those most
vulnerable populations, but also to think of affordable housing for
(17:55):
them meat income level. We ensuld diversify and start to
think about different elements, different kinds of housings that need
the demand of the different groups of the population.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
And do you feel the European Union institutions or the
local government are doing enough to secure the right to
house into everyone.
Speaker 7 (18:27):
As a foreigner. I think no, they're not what should
be done. I hope everything will be fixed in the future.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
I hope yes.
Speaker 9 (18:38):
I mean an institution, any political institution that I mean
want to preserve a young class of workers, should should
do something.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I mean should put.
Speaker 9 (18:50):
The people also because I mean we are facing democracy,
the sorry also democracy sometimes uh, the demographic crisis. So
if they want people to have babies for example, and
of course you first need a house and or at
least accessible rental if you don't want by.
Speaker 11 (19:11):
Definitely, on the European level, more should be done to
support trainees and young people moving to support their mobility
as well. There should be additional funds on that, and
we are talking now about Erasmud was also about additional fundings,
like a scholarship of five hundred euro to move to
Bussels for our internship.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
It's nothing, Yeah, they can, so I don't know how,
but like there's a couple of things that they could
do to help students or people that have such a
high income to like do more and help them because
housing is such important. Maybe like do like communities where
they can live for like people students like more for
(19:48):
also colleges like that they give more money to colleges
for students to live in there or to make that
less expensive.
Speaker 7 (19:56):
Yeah, I think it should be more than national responsibility.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So also that the EU opin.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
Union is more intervening and OK.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
And I also take this opportunity to invite our listeners
to let us know their opinion or any comment they
have on the issue and if they feel there's more
needs on their side. That they are not being hurt.
That's also interesting for us. And since you mentioned the
European Affordable Housing Plan that's under discussion in the EU.
(20:29):
From your perspective and also our theest perspectives is you're
in our advisory board. What should you policymakers keep in
mind because you mentioned that they're focusing more on the
affordable housing and maybe that's not what they should only
focus about. So more specifically, what should they keep in mind?
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Well, things like long term affordability, permanent affordability, social housing
and affordable housing should be addressed as a key in
fresh social infrastructures, and in that way they should include
conditions and requirements for this to be in the long
(21:08):
term affordable.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
This is basic. This is something quite basic in countries
like Austria, they don't think it in other ways, but
in most Europe this is not the case. Unfortunately.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Also affordable and social keep the priorities well established. I
mean first the ones that needed the most and second
middle income. So prioritize properly according to the needs. I
think this is quite important, and also include as well
(21:44):
clauses and conditions they did to corruption. Unfortunately, housing sector
and construction sector is very closely linked with corruption practices,
and I believe there are any ways the European Union,
together with national level and local level, can include these
(22:06):
kind of clauses that avoid corruption to get involved in
construction that much, and I think they have that capacity
to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And I would also suggest that the opinion to be
a bit.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Courageous and support projects and ways to access housing that
from the very core structure and mediation are thought to
avoid the speculation.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Thank you very much and thank you for joining us
and especially for your powerful.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Call to action.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
One thing is clear I would say is that housing
is more than a shelter, whether it's the infrastructure for democracy,
and this I think it's important to keep in mind.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
So thanks once.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Again and also to our listeners. If you'd like to
know more about all this work, both during the Civil
Society Week this year and about Mighty's intervention and speech,
you can find all the useful links below under this episode.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
This was Shades of Democracy.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe and
share with someone who believes in the power of local voices.
You can find our podcast on Spotify, Sprecker Apple podcasts,
Amazon Music are Heart Radio easier and of course on
Aldos website. Thank you very much, mighty, and bye bye
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