Andorran Children's Mother Homeless Despite 22 Years Work, Ignored by Authorities

A mother of two Andorran children, recently evicted and struggling to find affordable housing in the Principat, has taken temporary refuge at the Arca d'Aixovall shelter but says her situation has only worsened, with no response from government authorities.

The woman, who has lived and worked in Andorra for 22 years, moved into the facility—a short-term option run by Social Affairs and the Red Cross—days after publicly highlighting her plight. Speaking to *Diari d'Andorra*, she described feeling physically and emotionally drained, uncertain about her and her children's future. "I'm exhausted, I can't take it anymore. I don't know what will happen now," she said.

Despite the change, her administrative status remains unchanged. She has received no reply from either the Government or the National Housing Institute (INH), despite repeated appeals. "I haven't heard anything from anyone—not the Government, not the Housing Institute, nothing," she said.

She pays €720 monthly for a room at the Arca, with Social Affairs covering half-board costs—a setup she deems inadequate. "This isn't housing; it's survival," she said. Despite steady employment, she cannot afford private rentals, even a small flat. "I work and have income, but it doesn't help. Prices make it impossible."

The Red Cross assesses cases individually upon arrival, monitoring each user's personal and social circumstances. No fixed stay limit exists, as duration depends on progress.

For the first time, the mother is contemplating leaving Andorra. "If I were alone, I'd go back to my country, where I have family and a roof," she said. But her children— an 18-year-old son planning studies abroad and a 16-year-old daughter still in school here—keep her anchored. "I have two Andorran children. I can't leave them," she stressed. She feels trapped until her daughter turns 18, adding, "I see no future here."

She also criticised INH allocation rules, which deem her family eligible only for a three-bedroom affordable flat— a type rarely available in public stock—rather than a smaller unit. "They'd rather give me nothing than a two-bedroom. I don't want luxury; I just want a flat, even one-bedroom," she said. "I don't deserve to end up like this after a lifetime here. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else."