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Reassessing Obstacles and Opportunities for Marginalised, Middle-Aged Tenants in Europe: Addressing the Challenges of Prolonged House Sharing Through Case Studies in Barcelona and Amsterdam

Project description

Aged tenants extended house sharing in Amsterdam and Barcelona

Economic instability, demographic shifts, and a decline in affordable housing options are prompting older tenants to seek shared accommodation. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ROOMMATE project will explore the phenomenon of prolonged, involuntary house sharing among individuals aged 40 and older in the private rental market, focusing on case studies in Amsterdam and Barcelona. The project will develop a framework to analyse how extended house sharing impacts perceptions of the future, reproductive decisions, caregiving practices, and existing inequalities. The findings will inform the development of innovative housing solutions that address the evolving needs of diverse populations. Ultimately, it hopes to improve housing equity and sustainability by promoting successful housing innovations.

Objective

ROOMMATE investigates the increasingly prevalent phenomenon of prolonged involuntary house sharing within the private rental market among individuals aged 40+, using Amsterdam and Barcelona as case studies. Economic instability, demographic changes, and a shrinking pool of affordable housing are pushing mature tenants into shared accommodations.This project addresses a critical gap in housing research by shifting the focus from young adults to older individuals, thereby offering new empirical insights into how age intersects with housing insecurity. By employing a comparative urban approach and qualitative research, the project integrates life course perspectives with intersectional analysis to investigate how lived experiences of extended house sharing reshape notions of future and progress, alter reproductive decisions and caregiving practices, and exacerbate intersectional inequalities. These unique empirical insights will be used to explore innovative housing solutions addressing evolving social needs over the life course. The project aims to 1) establish a research framework to analyse long-term housing precarity; 2) empirically explore the lived experiences of older house sharers; and 3) examine international housing innovations to co-develop policies that address evolving life-course needs and enhance housing security for diverse populations. ROOMMATE's findings are expected to contribute significantly to the development of innovative policies and housing solutions, addressing urgent social challenges in Europe, such as prolonged precarity, demographic ageing, and the care and climate crises. By disseminating successful experiences in housing innovations and developing policies that support housing as a social infrastructure for diverse family choices, household configurations, care needs, and environmental challenges, ROOMMATE will significantly impact housing research and policy, promoting transformative improvements in housing equity and sustainability.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Net EU contribution
€ 232 916,16
Total cost
No data