Social Innovation in the Housing Policy in Spain

The context of this research is the economic and financial crisis that has had the effect of exponentially increasing unemployment and evictions across the country. This research has one general objective, and two more specifc objectives. The general objective is to analyze the impact of social movements on innovation based on scientifically validated successful actions, in public housing policy in Spain, since the beginning of the crisis (2008) to the present. The first specific objective is to review the scientific literature in order to find successful actions at the international level in the fight against the loss of housing that have allowed more people, belonging to the most disadvantaged social groups, to have adequate housing. The second and final specific objective is to identify if there is a presence of some of these successful actions in the field of housing in the context of Barcelona, where I place this research, and how social movements have influenced the implementation of these initiatives. The results show that there has been a change in housing policy and social movements have contributed substantially to this change through innovative solutions and social pressure towards the Spanish political system. The innovation introduced by the social movements are both at the individual level (processes of financial literacy, empowerment, deliberation and participation) and at the civil society level (collective action, collaboration with organization promoting new models of housing, such as cooperatives). These innovations have open a new path for the future development of the housing policy in Spain and also has turned civil society more powerful and a significant actor in the dialogue with the State institutions.