Violation of the right of the woman to housing in Spain (2008-2018)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyse the physical and economic dimension of housing exclusion among women in Spain during the 2008-2018 period. This research is based primarily on two statistical sources: The Survey on Living Conditions (ECV) carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the 2018 Survey on Integration and Social Needs of the FOESSA Foundation (EINSFOESSA). The results have been complemented with data from secondary sources obtained through a non-exhaustive literature review. The main contribution of this work lies in the fact that it offers a complete and up-to-date vision of the feminization of housing exclusion in Spain, an issue that has been scarcely examined. The results show conclusively that the housing bubble bust and the subsequent financial crisis caused a severe housing crisis that affected women more intensely. The economic dimension of this feminization of housing exclusion is particularly visible in the evolution of the relationship between household income and residential costs. During the 2008-2018 period, the housing cost burden and, in general, the housing cost overburden rate of women were higher than that of men. Therefore, these households have a greater propensity to develop strategies aimed at reducing the housing costs, such as the subletting of rooms, low consumption of electricity, water or heating, or greater residential mobility in search of more affordable dwellings. In this regard, it is worth highlighting the higher levels of housing vulnerability of single-parent households and single-person female households in the rented sector. The worse position of women in housing markets is also reflected in their physical housing conditions and its urban surroundings. Woman-headed households have a higher likelihood of living in non-barrier-free dwellings, in insanitary conditions, lacking of natural light, and with renewal needs. In addition, their dwelling is more likely to be located in urban areas with higher levels of pollution, noise, vandalism and crime. Given this reality, it is appropriate to ponder the effectiveness of all political and legal documents that call on governments to guarantee the right of women to decent and adequate housing at the national and international level. How can it be explained that the right of women to housing in Spain has reached such levels of violation despite the extensive relationship of international treaties and conventions that protect it and are applicable? There are not undoubtedly enough measures to correct the feminization of housing exclusion in Spain. Moreover, the cuts in public spending that took place in Spain after the crisis have undermined gender equality and housing policies, and by extension, widen the gender gap in housing exclusion. In this context, it is obvious that it is necessary to overcome the theoretical and declarative level of recognition of the right to housing and equality between men and women and to ensure that these policies are appropriately budgeted, implemented, and monitored.