Spain’s 79‑year‑old Juan lives in a van as pension falls short of housing costs

Juan, a 79‑year‑old former worker from Catalonia, spent 49 years in the labour market but receives only a €1,000 monthly pension. Unable to afford rent above €450, he was forced to live in a delivery van after his lease was not renewed. Over the past two months he drove more than 3,000 kilometres across sparsely populated parts of Catalonia searching for affordable housing. The union later provided him with a 32 m² social flat, but he says he needs a larger, affordable home.

The story highlights a broader European senior‑housing crisis. In Germany, the IG BAU union warns that about 5.1 million baby‑boom retirees will receive less than €800 per month between 2026 and 2036, and the share of seniors on state basic income has risen from 2.5 % in 2010 to 4.3 % today. Rising rent, heating and utility costs are driving many older citizens into similar hardship.

Both cases underline growing concerns over pension adequacy and the shortage of affordable housing for the elderly across Europe.