# Barcelona municipal housing and food security initiatives

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/barcelona-municipal-housing-and-food-security-initiatives
> Updated: 2026-09-24T06:01:08.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 3.

During the U20 Summit in New York, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni proposed a global alliance of cities to tackle the housing crisis, asserting that ‘housing is a right, not a business’. Collboni advocated for international coordination to mitigate the impact of global investment funds and short-term rental platforms.

As part of this urban policy discussion, Collboni and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani explored a model for affordable public supermarkets to address rising food costs. Barcelona has since moved forward with an initiative to establish a network of affordable food outlets using municipal premises managed by third-sector, non-profit organizations. This approach differs from the New York model, which involves direct public management with private oversight.

The city plans to launch a pilot project in the Marina del Prat Vermell neighborhood by 2027. The initiative aims to provide fresh products at reduced prices to families struggling with inflation and will be linked to professional training programs to foster job creation and vocational skills.

The proposal has faced significant resistance from the private retail sector. Local business associations, such as Barcelona Comerç, have raised concerns regarding unfair competition. Critics argue that because these public facilities do not face the same rent and operational costs as private businesses, they could threaten the viability of existing neighborhood shops in areas like Sant Antoni, El Clot, and Poblenou.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Barcelona to launch network of public supermarkets

Barcelona plans to launch a network of public, non-profit supermarkets to provide affordable fresh food, starting with a pilot in the Marina neighborhood to combat food inflation.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/barcelona-to-launch-network-of-public-supermarkets

### 2026-09-21: Barcelona announces affordable supermarket initiative amid retail shifts

Barcelona plans to launch a network of affordable, socially-managed supermarkets by 2027, while El Corte Inglés debuts a new retail-dining hybrid model at its Diagonal location.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cicles-morenito-bicycle-shop-closes-in-terrassa

### 2026-09-20: Barcelona Mayor calls for global housing alliance in New York

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni is calling for a global mayoral alliance to tackle housing unaffordability and is partnering with New York City to pilot a network of affordable public supermarkets.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/barcelona-mayor-calls-for-global-city-alliance-to-tackle-housing-crisis

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Cite as: Barcelona municipal housing and food security initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/barcelona-municipal-housing-and-food-security-initiatives