Considering the changes that the government is bringing to Airbnb and Golden Visa, it's time to address a problem that is growing in our country; the housing crisis. House prices are rising along with rents, bringing serious social and, ultimately, national problems. The question is why the housing crisis is such a great problem and how it can begin to be resolved.
Shelter is a basic human need. So a decent home cannot be a luxury, but the norm. Of course this is not the case nowadays. With rents going up all the time, decent housing is becoming more and more unattainable for more and more people. If we add the issue of goods prices to the equation, then we arrive at very unpleasant figures, such as the fact that the average salary only covers the expenses for 19 days of the month (Source at the bottom).
This problem does not only affect the lower economic strata, but also the middle class. Hypothetically, the middle class's basic characteristic is that it owns the house in which it lives. However, due to the housing crisis, the middle class has either shrunk or we need to change its definition, making home ownership a privilege only for the rich. So the new middle class instead of owning property simply rents slightly more expensive houses from the lower economic classes.
But all this starts to add up to an even bigger problem: the ageing population. Young couples are often blamed for the issue and are often portrayed as "frivolous", only caring about their career and leading carefree lives. But when you can't own a home and the rent is so out of control that you don't know what's in store for you, how can you feel comfortable starting a family? Is it a problem that these couples want to give their children a life similar to the one their parents gave to them? It is easier to blame the morals of the younger generation than recognizing the problems they face.
And, finally, in the midst of these problems, the new couple experiences a great injustice. We can accept that times have changed and having a home has become more difficult. But more and more rich foreigners are coming and buying houses in Greece, with the government cheering them on. And here's the injustice: a couple that works, pays taxes and wants to raise a family in Greece cannot buy a house in their country. While foreign families who do none of that, are backed by the government to buy. Then we wonder about brain drain and immigration of the young generation. How do we talk about the ageing population when those who contribute the most to Greece end up becoming tenants for foreigners in their own country?
Giving incentives to foreigners instead of Greek people to purchase houses is morally questionable. If golden visa is not abolished, it should at the very least be suspended for a while. But that is not the solution. The solution is for the government to support those who contribute to a country that so far gives them nothing in return. Building social housing, incentivizing investment in private housing and more home loan schemes are all positive measures to begin the reversal of the housing crisis.
Ultimately, this crisis is not a simple problem, because "it never rains, but it pours". The solution to the housing crisis will therefore be the starting point for the reversal of other crises, but it will require political courage and major changes. It is not about convenience but about the survival of our nation. If our country's assets are owned by foreigners and young people are leaving the country, then Greece is truly dying.
