The Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, met the promotors of the law on the housing emergency and energy poverty to guarantee the right to housing, following the challenge to part of the law by central government, lodged with the Constitutional Court. Thanks to City Council’s law 24/2015, some 639 evictions have been halted since January, the use of over 400 homes from banks is being secured, social rents have been established for 104 families evicted by large-scale property owners and other goals have been achieved.

According to Colau, work will continue on jointly guarantee the right to housing: “A state law is needed for dignified housing for everyone, and to prevent property booms”. Colau pointed out that thanks to the law, which “the PP government” has challenged via its appeal to the Constitutional Court, City Council has been able to tackle the housing emergency by setting up the unit for the prevention of residential exclusion to avoid evictions and provide support for vulnerable families.

Colau stated that support from the Generalitat is needed to help municipal councils counter evictions and infringements by large-scale property owners, and that, despite the challenge by central government: “I can’t contemplate backing down in guaranteeing the right to housing. This should help us take a step forward”.

Apart from the Mayor, yesterday’s meeting was also attended by Carlos Macías (PAH), Irene Escorihuela (DESC) and María Campuzano (APE), as well as the Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Laia Ortiz, and the Councillor for Housing, Josep Maria Montaner.