21/12/2020
FSG International
Fundación Secretariado Gitano publishes an article on challenges and opportunities to eradicate slums in Spain. The article is compiled in FEANTSA’s (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless) special issue on Roma Experiences of Homelessness in Europe.
As underlined in this special issue, Roma people across the EU experience racialized poverty, including housing deprivation, at a much higher level than the non-Roma. Housing deprivation within Roma and general population has increased due to the impact of COVID19.
The European Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation, launched in October 2020 by the European Commission, sets specific targets and indicators to reduce inequality in housing for the next ten years within European Member States.
In Spain, in spite of remarkable advances in public policies to eradicate housing deprivation in the last 20 years, there is a persisting existence of 8.63% of sub-standard housing affecting over 9,000 Roma people, being 2.17% of it, of slums (over 2,200 Roma households).
Slum persistency in Spain, although less significant than before, still affects considerably Roma population, and its eradication is not only needed, but possible.
Political commitment combined with adequate funding instruments, such as ERDF or ESF+, that already target socioeconomic integration of marginalized communities such as Roma, are an effective way for slum eradication in Spain.
The experience from the last years, demonstrates that Cooperation between NGOs, local and regional authorities has been key to success for achieving a long-lasting positive effect on the Roma population that is moved out of slums into ordinary, non-segregated housing.
It is the right timing to ensure public administrations’ commitment against house deprivation and join efforts to ensure that this remaining 2% of Roma population still living in substandard housing are enabled to decent housing, guaranteeing their rights, life quality and full economic and social inclusion.
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