Mother and Daughter Denied Two-Bedroom Flat in Andorra Over Rigid Housing Rules

A mother evicted from her home in Andorra, now living temporarily at the Arca d'Aixovall shelter with her underage daughter, has been denied access to a two-bedroom flat in Encamp by the government.

The Institut Nacional de l'Habitatge (INH) rejected her application because her family composition does not match the available housing types. She lives alone with her daughter, but regulations prevent assigning two-bedroom flats to such households. "It's brutal... They won't give it to me because it has to be exactly a three-bedroom flat for a family," she told Diari d'Andorra.

The woman, who also has an adult son and a former partner, criticised the rigid rules. She was not informed in time that she needed a sworn declaration from her ex-partner and son confirming the son no longer lives with her—a requirement to qualify for other units.

She described the policy as contradictory, noting that the Arca, run by the Red Cross, is not designed for families. "Separating a family and denying a two-bedroom flat is madness," she said. "They'd rather leave me on the street than give me a two-bedroom flat."

Even if she submits the declaration and appeals, she expects no housing until the next allocation round in Sant Julià de Lòria, scheduled for February. In the meantime, she must remain at the Arca for at least another month, after months in precarious conditions following her eviction. She hopes the upcoming call will provide a suitable home.