Since 2007, the spreaded economic crisis became a worldwilde social crisis. This last decade, our rights have been drastically reduced to focus on the economic growth. Every country didn’t perceive the crisis with the same eye but each of them got affected. Nowadays, according to their financial situation, populations can quickly struggle to live comfortably enough. Alongside the environmental crisis, today, people are stronger than ever to change our society and make the democracy alive again !
Even though our social crisis has multiple dimensions, accommodation issues has it place on the podium. Housing is a foremost basic human requirement and nobody will argue on that. When wages stagnation becomes a norm while landlords rent inflate, an alternative accommodation seems to be the right solution. Why ?
Reality vs fiction
Nothing is black or white but always a weird mix of many factors. Governments always tend to project a nice burrfree image of their country. Cannot blame them. However, the reality can sometimes be way different and highlight fondamental issues.
Social exclusion
“People’s dreams of owning their own home have faded because they earn above the bare minimum to qualify for a free house, but too little to afford a property in the formal sector.” Ivan Turok & Andreas Scheba
Excessive regulations from financial institutions became a nightmare for many of dreamers. Every data of your private life is now carefully taking care of, decreasing as much as possible your chances to get a loan. And what was once a housing crisis for unemployed now reaches deeply into the working population (HSRC). A job is not sufficient anymore to claim a property which indirectly increase inequalities among population.
Nevertheless, the main problem turns around prices. According to the Eurostat, almost every fourth person in the EU is still at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Wages stagne while inflation continues to raise up preventing people to hope for an affordable investment. Landlords rise every year their rent and housing prices can be completely unreachable.
In that specific situation, a Tiny House can indeed resolve, in a way, many sides of social crisis. Many companies started to build those movable tiny homes to face the lack of money that people could suffer from (social stigmatization…). The price is usually between 20.000 e and 50.000 e while wishing for a standard house can cost you an average of 100.000 e minimum ! Banks can be relieved as much as you are, no big deal, no big risk.
Smashed welfare
What will you choose, as a necessity, to improve your welfare ? A comfy home for me, without any doubts. We spend so much time in it that I cannot imagine living in a non safety and obsolote place (not in good standing). Unfortunately, many of us do it, either by lack of accommodation or money. The social crisis is important and leaves a terrifying number of negative effects. Despite social policies, a person can wait years before getting a social accommodation while she is in needs. Not really fair.
Although positive actions are implemented by NGO’s and governments, housing issue will never be fully recovered as our demography tends to rise. But as food, clothes and health, living under a decent roof should be accessible to everyone.
Alongside unemployement and the breakdown economic conditions, mobility seems to be an answer. A movable Tiny House has a cost efficient but allows you to move around your life choices as well. We are not exempt to another financial crisis and when the time comes, we wanna be able to seek for a job anywhere. Loosing your work is not a fatality as long as you can find a comfy situation again ! Rised thumb for the first Tiny House village in France, hopefully this exception will become a norm and spread around cities !
Climate change
Climate change belongs to our social crisis, it is a whole package with heavy consequences. One effect causes another. As little as is your effort, it can make a change at your scale. Multinationals and governments shake hands and not for the wisest compromise. For now, we can only count on ourself and learn how to live differently.
# Do not forget, only one life is in our hands, follow your instinct, ALWAYS.
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