Homesharing started in Spain in 1991, in Granada, and spread to other university cities. Programmes were set up in response to the chronic shortage of student accommodation and to this day, homeshare mainly links students and older householders for the duration of the academic year.

In Madrid, Convive is the country’s leading homeshare programme coordinated by Solidarios para el Desarrollo since 1995 with the collaboration of local government and seven public universities. Convive promotes an experience of mutual benefit and help, shared experiences and learning, and strengthening new relationships on both sides. Around 1,800 ‘matches’ between elderly people and university students have been made since then.

Solidarios is a non-profit organisation dedicated to social volunteering, social programmes and awareness of issues related to social justice and solidarity. In May 2017 Solidarios organised the Fifth World Homeshare Congress in Madrid.

Red de Programas de Convivencia Intergeneracional explains (in Spanish) how the programmes work and lists the known programmes in Spain.

Homesharers matched by Solidarios, Madrid, Spain Photo ©Elena Chebanova/Solidarios