Emergency Housing, School Cooling and Storm Aid Fast-Tracked

The Catalan government has approved a package of urgent social measures worth more than €200 million, aiming to prevent policy paralysis ahead of the 29 November general election. At a meeting on Tuesday, 7 October 2026, the Consell Executiu greenlit €25 million for an emergency anti-eviction fund, €100 million to air-condition priority public schools, and €75 million in aid for communities and businesses hit by recent extreme rainfall. These moves follow President Salvador Illa’s announcements last week during the Debate on General Policy in Parliament and at a mid-term review conference at the Museu Marítim in Barcelona. The Executive said it is accelerating implementation to ensure continuity despite the upcoming snap election.

€25M Anti-Eviction Fund to Acquire Homes

The newly approved Fons d'Emergència Habitacional will use €25 million to purchase homes of vulnerable residents facing eviction when no other support options remain available. These properties will become part of the public housing stock managed by the Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya. The government says the fund may be expanded to €50 million if needed. According to the official resolution published via govern.cat, the mechanism activates only when all other legal or financial safeguards have been exhausted. The goal is to halt evictions swiftly and maintain residential stability.

"The most important thing is the speed of the announcement of the fund and its approval, and to prevent evictions,"Sílvia Paneque, Spokesperson and Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition

The government also plans to reactivate a second home-purchase programme in January, allocating €100 million for joint acquisitions between the state and individuals over 40 struggling to access mortgages, a measure previously rejected by Parliament due to Comuns’ abstention. Despite this, officials assert the administration retains legitimacy to proceed under executive authority.

  • Initial fund: €25 million (expandable to €50M)
  • Target: Prevent evictions through direct home purchases
  • Ownership: Transferred to Agència de l'Habitatge de Catalunya
  • Activation condition: No alternative housing solutions exist

€100M to Cool 100 Schools by 2028

A total of €100 million will be invested over two years to install full climate control systems in 100 priority public schools across Catalonia. The project, confirmed in a government agreement on 7 October, aims to complete installations before June 2028, just before the current legislature expires. President Illa set 2031 as the target for fully air-conditioning all 2,530 public schools and 51 public nursing homes in the region, according to details shared during his mid-term review speech. Municipalities are being called upon to co-finance remaining projects or apply for loans through the Institut Català de Finances (ICF), with interest-rate subsidies provided by the government. Education and Economy departments will coordinate implementation, supported by Infracat and local councils. Technical offices will manage tender processes and engage private investment where possible.

Aid Also Extended to Nursing Homes

An additional €58 million is allocated to climate-proof 51 public elderly care residences. For privately run centres with contracted places, the government will subsidise part of the cost through ICF-backed financing schemes.

"We are not giving up on anything."Sílvia Paneque, on the Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms

€75M Storm Relief Package Activated

In response to severe storms over the weekend of 4–5 October 2026, the government has mobilised €75 million in immediate aid:

  • €20 million in direct grants to municipal councils for infrastructure repair
  • €5 million to support economic recovery for affected companies and self-employed workers
  • €50 million via ICF Emergencias credit line to provide liquidity while insurance claims are processed

This first tranche was formally approved on 7 October, following President Illa’s initial pledge on Monday, 6 October. Officials stressed that the amount is expandable depending on verified damage assessments.

"This emergency has tested Catalonia and has been worse than the one in January,"Sílvia Paneque, referring to January's storm that killed a train driver and disrupted Rodalies services

Paneque reiterated that “no person or business should face this alone” and confirmed coordination with local authorities to assess further needs.

Government Warns Key Projects May Lapse

Despite these advances, several flagship initiatives depend on post-election continuity. Among them are the proposed financing model expected to bring €4,700 million into Generalitat coffers and potential savings of €17,000 million from interest reductions under the FLA framework agreed in 2023 between PSOE and ERC. Legislative proposals such as stricter penalties for cable theft have already lapsed due to the dissolution of Parliament. However, the government believes it can still advance non-legislative actions, including:

  • The transfer of management of Rodalies line R1 (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat to Blanes/Maçanet-Massanes) this autumn
  • Progress on the orbital railway line agreed with ERC
  • Establishment of the Zona Franca consortium and a new commercial entity to replace the stalled investment body blocked by Junts in Congress
"Let’s not mistake our adversaries. All these measures were being promoted, and that is why it is important that the same Government continues [after the elections]."Sílvia Paneque

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by elpais.com, elperiodico.com, laciutat.cat, elnacional.cat, David Expósito J, [email protected], diarimes.com, elplural.com, ACN, rac1.cat, expansion.com, El País Barcelona.