Houses out of reach? Housing strategies of urban middle class in Poland

The project addresses one of the most pressing contemporary challenges: growing housing inequalities and their relationship to broader social inequalities. Inflation and the rising cost of living, increasing interest rates, and stricter mortgage lending rules mean that more and more people – especially young adults – are facing heightened financial pressure related to housing. This issue affects not only those with the lowest incomes but also segments of the middle class, for whom purchasing or independently renting a home is increasingly out of reach. Experts are increasingly referring to a “housing crisis,” the resolution of which is likely to become a key political priority in the coming years.

How are members of the middle class coping with the changing accessibility of housing in cities? How are these shifts affecting their everyday lives and visions of the future? I aim to answer these questions based on biographical interviews with residents of two urban centers in Poland where property prices are the highest: Gdańsk and Warsaw. The interviews will be conducted with people aged 25 to 40, representing diverse socio-demographic groups (in terms of gender, marital status, family situation, and background) and various housing arrangements (rental or owning with a mortgage).

The results of the project will serve as a starting point for further, more holistic research into the connections between housing status and social inequalities. At the same time, the findings may have practical applications – contributing to a better understanding of how to shape housing and urban policies in ways that more effectively promote equal opportunities and reduce social inequalities.