IKEA Teams Up with Nova University to Tackle Student Housing Crisis in Portugal

IKEA Joins Forces with Nova University

IKEA Portugal has partnered with Rede ¼, an initiative from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, aiming to address the growing housing crisis by connecting university students with hosts willing to offer rooms for rent at affordable prices.

This initiative is a response to the lack of adequate housing for displaced students, impacting approximately 175,000 young people in Portugal.

According to the National Housing Plan for Higher Education (PNAES), only 10% of displaced students have access to university residences, leaving a significant portion of the student population without affordable options. This situation particularly affects socially and economically vulnerable families, making it difficult for young individuals to make critical choices during pivotal moments in their academic lives.

Through Rede ¼, IKEA Portugal not only aims to increase housing availability but also seeks to combat student loneliness and provide hosts with an additional source of income. The Swedish brand will provide furniture and decor solutions to fully furnish 6 rooms and partially furnish 20 rooms in the first year of the project, ensuring comfort and functionality for students who are moving out for the first time. Additionally, the first 50 students to book a room will receive a €50 IKEA gift card to personalize their space.

Cláudia Domingues, Communication Director at IKEA Portugal, stated, “At IKEA, we believe everyone deserves a comfortable, functional, and affordable home. However, this is not the reality for many university students, for whom a rented room is often their first home away from home. We are confident that Rede ¼ will contribute to a better daily life for many students and those who welcome them into their homes, and therefore, we are delighted to support its realization.”