Housing, self-determination, and deinstitutionalization in Spain
A critical analysis of the 2026–2030 National Housing Plan based on the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2754Keywords:
intellectual disability, housing policy, self-determination, deinstitutionalisation, participation, independent livingAbstract
This article analyses the extent to which the Spanish State Housing Plan 2026-2030 responds to the demands for residential self-determination expressed by people with intellectual disabilities (ID), based on qualitative evidence from the FRI-HOUSING project. The methodology combines documentary analysis of Royal Decree 326/2026 (2026) with eight focus groups conducted across different Spanish autonomous communities involving 51 people with intellectual disabilities. The analysis is structured around the multidimensional friendly housing model proposed by Quesada-Cubo et al. (2025). The findings identify relevant convergences in cognitive accessibility, assistive technologies, funding for inclusive housing solutions, and institutional recognition of residential exclusion. However, tensions and gaps persist regarding effective participation, everyday self-determination, and control over support arrangements and residential decision-making. The study provides a critical approach to the analysis of housing policies grounded in the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities themselves.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Pilar Munuera Gomez, Mariangeles Minguela Recover, Rosa María Díaz-Jiménez, Yolanda Mª de la Fuente-Robles
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Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation
Grant numbers PID2022-140619OB-I00
