Anne is 23, recently graduated, and works full-time; on paper, she's doing everything "right." Despite this, she still lives in her old bedroom at her parents' house. Not out of luxury, but due to a lack of alternatives. "I've been registered for years, applying for everything that's available, and I get the standard response: 'Sorry, you weren't selected,'" she says. For her, the housing shortage doesn't feel like an abstract political problem, but something that's literally bringing her life to a standstill. No place of her own, no peace, no real start.
Houses Where No One Grows
What frustrates Anne most is that she keeps seeing the same images in her search. Large, four-bedroom single-family homes, occupied by one or two elderly people. "I don't begrudge anyone comfort," she says, "but it feels wrong that families don't have space and newcomers to the housing market are stuck, while entire houses are barely occupied." According to Anne, it's not about blame, but efficiency. The housing stock is barely growing, while the distribution is becoming increasingly uneven.
Making commitments sounds harsh, but doing nothing is even harder.
Anne knows her statement sounds harsh. Committing to downsizing immediately meets with resistance. Nevertheless, she considers the conversation necessary. "We now act as if moving must always be a free choice, but housing has become a scarce commodity." She compares it to other collective systems. "We also accept rules surrounding care, pensions, and transportation—why is housing suddenly sacrosanct?" In her view, solidarity sometimes means creating space for the next generation.
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The emotional side of staying put
Critics point out that older people are often emotionally attached to their homes. Anne understands this but considers the argument incomplete. "Everyone gives something up," she says. "I'm giving up independence, future plans, and peace of mind." In her opinion, the emotional burden on young people is structurally underestimated. Relationships are postponed, children are unthinkable, and career decisions are based on commute time rather than ambition.
Not an attack on the elderly, but on the system
Anne emphasizes that she doesn't see older people as the enemy. Her criticism is directed at policies that have been postponed for decades. "Politicians have acted for too long as if the market would solve it." The result is a generation that does everything that's asked of them but can't find a place to live. "Then it's logical that they look at redistribution," she says. "Not out of anger, but out of necessity."
An uncomfortable question that remains open
Anne isn't dogmatic about whether mandatory downsizing is the solution. What she does know for sure, however, is that doing nothing is no longer an option. "Every solution hurts someone," she says. "The only question is: who?" For now, this pain is primarily felt by young people. And as long as that remains the case, the anger will continue to grow. "I'm not demanding luxury," Anne concludes. "Just one place to start."
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