Housing in Spain

Overview

The right to decent housing is constitutionally recognized for Spaniards in Article 47 of the Constitution. With regards to foreign nationals, the Law 4/2000 states that foreigners with legal residency in the country have the right to access public housing assistance under the terms established by law and by the competent authorities. Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned law, foreigners with long-term residency permit, are entitled to such assistance under the same conditions as Spaniards.

Beside the right to housing for migrant population who are holders of residence permits, the Spanish reception system, managed by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (hereinafter MISSM) is designed to secure housing to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who have entered the Spanish territory. Thus, the access to housing is secured for:

• Asylum seekers: regardless of how asylum seekers have accessed the Spanish territory (via sea, land or air route), the Spanish reception system provides accommodation facilities to asylum seekers in different regions in Spain. The accommodation centers are mainly financed by the MISSM and managed by NGOs. Once the status of refugee has been granted, the beneficiaries can remain their stay in the accommodation centers for refugees.
• Refugees: same as the asylum seekers, the housing is secured to individuals who have been granted international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection). Refugees have the right to remain at facilities funded by the Government up to 18 months (stay of up to 24 months is granted only to extremely vulnerable cases). During the first 6 months of stay, refugees are accommodated mainly in public accommodation facilities and flats managed by NGOs. After the first 6 months, the beneficiaries are supported in the search for individual accommodation, which is still funded by the Government, until the completion of a total of 18 months of stay;
• Irregular migrants: migrant population that has reached Spain irregularly, mainly by sea and the land routes to Ceuta and Melilla, are also sheltered in accommodation facilities funded by the Government and run by several NGOs across Spain. The time of stay in these facilities is up to 3 months, although extension of this period is granted for vulnerable cases. The occupancy of these facilities is mainly distributed by the gender and the profiles of the beneficiaries in terms of vulnerability. Thus, the vast majority are centers aimed for adult men and to a smaller extent, centers aimed for women travelling alone, pregnant women, mothers with children and families.

The State-run reception model in Spain, regardless of the profile of beneficiaries, includes support provided by social workers, access to health, psychological support, support for the access to the labor market and others.
Along with all the above-mentioned housing facilities secured with public funds, there are numerous programs supported by private entities and religious organizations which are providing shelter to migrant population, regardless of their administrative status.
Despite most of the housing programs are about temporary shelter, there are many of these that stand out in terms of objectives, services provided, type of vulnerable cases attended, actors involved and other relevant aspects.