A unique social programme in Barcelona is tackling two of the city’s most persistent challenges: the acute shortage of affordable housing for students and the profound loneliness affecting many elderly residents. The ‘Viure i Conviure’ (Live and Coexist) initiative pairs university students with seniors living alone, offering a simple yet powerful exchange: a free room in return for daily companionship.
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Barcelona’s housing market has been notoriously difficult for decades. While some studies suggest that homebuying in Barcelona can be cheaper than renting, high upfront costs remain a significant barrier for students and young people. Consequently, authorities have explored various solutions, including the regional government planning a new tax break for renters and the city expanding free legal housing aid to all districts.
Amidst these challenges, ‘Viure i Conviure’ offers a different solution, built on mutual support rather than market economics. The Fundació Roure manages the programme, which has forged intergenerational bonds for 29 years. The City Council of Barcelona has provided crucial funding for the last decade.
A Tale of Two Generations
The premise is straightforward. A senior over the age of 65 who lives alone and is capable of an independent life offers a spare room to a university student under 35. In exchange, the student provides companionship and a reassuring presence, committing to be home at least six nights a week and spend around two hours a day with their host. There is no financial exchange between the two.
This simple arrangement has profound effects. For the student, it removes the immense financial burden of rent. For the senior, it brings life, conversation, and a sense of security into their home, directly combating unwanted solitude.
Participants demonstrate the model’s success. For instance, in the vibrant Gràcia neighbourhood, 88-year-old Àngel Cotanda has welcomed students into his home for nine years. His current flatmate is Giormis ‘Gio’ Gómez, a master’s student from Cuba. According to a betevé report, they fill their days with shared activities: eating meals, watching television, playing dominoes, and tending to the small vegetable garden at the house.
“It’s a relationship where we both win,” explains Gio. “I have found a family in Barcelona, and Àngel has someone who looks after his things.”
For Gio, the experience has been an opportunity to “find a home, an environment where I can learn the culture and history of the city.” Àngel, meanwhile, considers the students who have lived with him to be “like family.”
Official Backing for an ‘Enriching’ Model
The programme’s positive social impact has garnered sustained support from public institutions. In addition to the City Council, both the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Provincial Deputation of Barcelona also collaborate on this initiative.
Maria Eugènia Gay, Barcelona’s Second Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Culture, and Education, affirmed the city’s commitment to the project. She described such programmes as entirely ‘enriching’ and stated the council intends to ‘continue promoting’ them.
Currently, 102 ‘Viure i Conviure’ pairs exist across Catalonia, with the vast majority (89) located within Barcelona. As the city continues to seek innovative social policies, this long-running programme testifies to the power of community and offers a practical model for how different generations can help solve each other’s problems.
