În România, mentalitatea e că trebuie să fii sărac ca să beneficiezi de locuință socială (interviu Irina Zamfirescu)

The interview “În România, mentalitatea e că trebuie să fii sărac ca să beneficiezi de locuință socială” is published by HotNews.ro and authored by journalist Ioana Vochin. It is part of a European Pulse project coordinated by Catiușa Ivanov and includes contributions from media partners in Bulgaria, Spain, the Czech Republic and Austria. The piece explores the Romanian perception of social housing, contrasting it with the broader European approach, and features sociologist Irina Zamfirescu as the primary commentator.

Romania’s social‑housing system is portrayed as limited and stigmatised. Only 0.17 % of the national housing stock is classified as social housing, the lowest share in the EU (OECD data 2020‑2024). The capital, Bucharest, manages 1 175 social units, while a stalled project in Prelungirea Ghencea (114 units, 60 % complete) remains unfinished. A waiting list of 5 724 applicants is recorded for the capital, with additional un‑centralised requests at sectoral level (285 in Sector 3, 283 in Sector 6). Many applicants have been waiting for decades; the oldest active file dates back to 2000, and some claim waiting periods exceed 20 years.

Eligibility in Bucharest is tied to net monthly income per household member falling below the national average net salary. For “convenient” rentals (≈4 000 units), rent is capped at 10 % of the household’s net income over the past year for low‑income families. Rental rates vary from 28 lei/m² in central areas to 12 lei/m² in peripheral zones (e.g., 1 680 lei for a 60 m² central flat, 720 lei on the outskirts). The city also monitors sub‑letting and Airbnb activity in these units.

Vienna provides a stark contrast, with roughly 420 000 social or subsidised units (≈40 % of its total housing stock) and over one million residents living in such housing. Eligibility thresholds are relatively generous: a single person may earn up to €61 280 annually, or €5 000 per month, to qualify. Waiting times average 1.5–2 years, far shorter than Romania’s multi‑decade queues.

EU‑wide, households allocate about one‑fifth of median income to housing, but in major cities this share can exceed 40 %. Around 10 % of urban residents struggle to meet rent or mortgage payments on time. The European Commission’s 2025 plan targets the housing crisis, emphasizing “affordability” – keeping housing costs below 30‑40 % of disposable income.

Zamfirescu highlights a persistent Romanian mindset that views social housing as a safety net for the “failed” or extremely poor, rooted in post‑communist attitudes. This cultural barrier, alongside limited funding, hampers expansion. While the Ministry of Development holds EU‑funded resources for new construction, actual delivery remains low. Local authorities also face political constraints; under Mayor Nicușor Dan only about 20 social units were allocated in two years, compared with 114 during the previous administration.

The interview underscores that sustainable housing solutions in Romania require both increased supply and a shift in public perception. Integrating social housing into broader urban planning can reduce sprawl, lower commuting emissions, and support social cohesion. The contrast with Vienna demonstrates that generous eligibility criteria and substantial public investment can deliver high‑quality, affordable homes at scale, offering a model for other European cities aiming to meet sustainability and equity goals.