Argilan ESK, Berri-Otxoa and the Socialist Housing Union of the Basque Country denounce cuts in social benefits for access to housing by the Basque Government. As you pointed out at the Tuesday hearing on the Basque Parliament portal, the measure will affect vulnerable sections of the population and will leave thousands of people without help to obtain decent housing.

“Reforms that cut housing benefits have been secretly adopted for some time.” They point out that these benefits have been precarious, impoverished and private to the most vulnerable people and community units.

Further reforms

Actors have criticised two “key” measures. On the one hand, the new Law of the Basque System of Inclusion and Income Guarantee (RGI), which entered into force on 29 March, which redefines the concept of “neighbor”. In this sense, "the untitled use of a dwelling will not be considered housing", so that the IGR will not be eligible for housing without a rental contract or title.

The Economic Housing Benefit (PCV) approved in October 2023 is also mentioned. The new aid will enter into force in April 2024 and will “replace” existing aid without joining them. Accordingly, the Supplementary Housing Benefit (PCV) and the Social Emergency Rental Aid (AES) will be suspended. In addition, “unavoidable criterion” for access to the new benefit will be uninterrupted registration for three years in Etxebide.

Agents have pointed out that these changes will have a negative impact on "hundreds of homes and thousands of people". They stress that the most affected will be the “precarious and poor sectors”: “Those with lower incomes are the sectors most directly affected by this reduction policy; migrants, families with the most difficulties to make ends meet, precarious jobs, young workers, single-parent families…”.

Support from political parties

They point out that these policies have been developed “in a context of general impoverishment” and that the institutions have “sought” to reduce public spending by reducing the benefit system to the most precarious sectors. They also note that all political parties have supported the measures: “Proof of this is that these reforms have been approved by the PNV, the PSE and Jon Podemos and the complicit abstention of EH Bildu. Likewise, the cuts provided for by the Housing Act were approved by the PSE and EH Bildu”. In addition, they denounce that these parties “campaign” in housing “saying they have promoted improvements”.

Faced with this situation, various institutions have called for a demonstration on 24 February, at 12:00, from Plaza Moyua in Bilbao. The protest aims to avoid further cuts in social benefits and demand decent living conditions: “No to new cuts in social benefits!”