Czech Republic

Housing unaffordability in Prague is among the worst in Europe. After 1989, the housing stock was privatised and this trend continues to this day. Homelessness should be seen as a political problem embodying the (dys)functionality of the housing system.The prevailing rhetoric around individual responsibility is intended to divert attention away from the politicians and governments responsible for the situation. For the most part, they delegate the duty of cities to provide public or minimally affordable housing for all, including low-income residents, to the private sector. However, cities are unable to force developers to meet this need. And yet low-income workers provide a range of indispensible services without which cities would collapse. The Czech exposition raises questions and offers possible solutions.