The report discusses a significant rent gap in Polish cities, where many earn too much for social housing but not enough for market rents, impacting hundreds of thousands, especially vulnerable groups.
In Poland, a staggering number of individuals, estimated at 993,000 across five major cities—Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, and Łódź—find themselves caught in a rent gap. This situation arises when people earn too much to qualify for social housing but not enough to afford market rents. The report highlights that particularly vulnerable populations affected by this issue include students, young professionals, single parents, seniors without property, and large families.
The assessment of the rent gap is documented in a report titled 'Assessment of the Market Potential for Affordable Housing for Displaced Persons and Local Communities in Poland,' produced by PwC, the Institute for Urban and Regional Development, and Habitat for Humanity. This report was prepared under a contract with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and offers insights into the challenges and potential solutions for the housing crisis in Poland.
One of the key recommendations from the report suggests a shift in the funding model for social and municipal housing construction. The proposal indicates a decrease in grants but an increase in affordable, long-term loans to foster the development of housing solutions. This adjustment aims to address the housing paradox faced by a significant portion of the Polish society, emphasizing the need for innovative financing strategies to ensure access to affordable housing for those who sit on the edge of housing insecurity.
