The students' central demand, encapsulated by the phrase “When I grow up, I want to own a home,” resonated during the plenary session. The students, who have been working on this issue in various subjects with the support of the Observatori de Drets Socials de Terrassa, emphasized that housing is much more than a physical space; it is a home and an emotion.
“"When the right to housing is violated, other rights, such as health or education, are inevitably violated."
The data presented by the young people is alarming: eight out of ten Catalans under thirty-five cannot become independent, and those who do must allocate up to 90% of their income to an individual rental or more than 35% if shared. This situation has caused the youth emancipation rate in Catalonia to fall to 15.2% in 2024.
The students criticized the “passive” role of public administrations in the face of the commodification of housing, which they consider a fundamental right subject to speculation. They expressed their concern for the future, recalling that as children they thought access to housing would be simpler.
“"This issue is frightening. When we were little, we thought that working, earning money, and having a home would be relatively easy. What can we do? What will happen to our future?"
In response, the Councillor for Social Services, Noel Duque, thanked the students for their participation and acknowledged the complexity of the issue. He assured that there is a consensus among parties to increase the number of social housing units and confirmed that the six proposals presented by the students will be incorporated into the Housing Plan, which is expected to be approved in the May Plenary Session.
