The Chair for Decent and Sustainable Housing at UPF-BSM and the Metropolitan House Foundation explores new approaches to boosting social housing in Spain

The UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM) and the Metropolitan House Foundation have presented the report “Housing Associations: the provision and management of social housing”, a research project developed within the framework of the Chair for Decent and Sustainable Housing. The study explores how internationally established affordable housing management models can be adapted to the Spanish context.

The report examines different approaches to the provision and management of social housing, taking as a reference successful experiences such as housing associations, with the aim of identifying innovative solutions to expand the stock of affordable rental housing in Spain and improve its management.

The presentation brought together representatives from the institutional, business, and social sectors to reflect on the current challenges surrounding access to housing and to discuss potential collaboration mechanisms between public administrations, social organisations, and private stakeholders.

The opening session featured José M. Martínez-Sierra, General Director of UPF-BSM, and Rafael Angulo, President of the Metropolitan House Foundation, who highlighted the need to strengthen policies and structures aimed at increasing the supply of affordable and social housing in a context marked by rising housing prices and a limited stock of social housing compared to other European countries.

Later, Elena Pellicer, lecturer at UPF-BSM and co-author of the report, presented the study’s main conclusions, which focus on three key areas: the economic and financial sustainability of the analysed models, their social impact, and the governance systems that support them.

The report also reviews initiatives developed by third-sector organisations already operating in Spain, such as Fundació Hàbitat3 and LUMVRA  (integrated within Provivienda ) both pioneering entities in the management and promotion of social housing.

Among the report’s key findings is the growing consolidation of non-profit organisations capable of combining a strong social mission with professional management models and stable cooperation with public administrations, thereby strengthening their capacity to develop and manage affordable housing.

The event also included a roundtable discussion moderated by Ramon Bastida, Director of the Chair, with the participation of Carme Trilla, President of Fundació Hàbitat3; Hugo Sintes, founding partner of GENIVS Insulae; and Josune Huidobro, Operations Director at Provivienda. During the debate, the speakers shared perspectives on the present and future of social housing, as well as on the concept of the “social housing provider”, inspired by successful models already implemented in several European countries.

The event also highlighted the work carried out by the Chair for Decent and Sustainable Housing and the Metropolitan House Foundation in promoting a more social, sustainable, and efficient approach to the real estate sector, particularly regarding access to housing for vulnerable groups.

The session concluded with closing remarks by Joan Ramon Riera, Housing Commissioner of Barcelona City Council, and José Vicente Muñoz, General Director of the Metropolitan House Foundation.

This report is the eighth applied research project promoted by the Chair for Decent and Sustainable Housing at UPF-BSM, an initiative created jointly with the Metropolitan House Foundation to foster analysis and transformation within the real estate sector from a social, economic, and environmental perspective.