Anne (23): Older people should be required to live in smaller homes – then I’d have a better chance of getting a house.

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.