Homelessness in Catalonia is a well-established and growing phenomenon. The State Department of Social Rights commissioned a group of experts to prepare a diagnosis of the current situation, recent trends and characteristics of the affected population. The report, presented on Monday, is based on various data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), and includes for the first time a specific section for Catalonia. Among the most striking indicators is a 40% increase in less than two years in the group of people living in care centers and services, as well as a 30 percentage point increase in women in this situation (their proportion rose from 12% to 42% in a decade). “The report confirms a fact that worries us,” said Raul Moreno Montana, Secretary-General for Social Rights and Inclusion. “Homelessness affects very different social patterns, but we are particularly concerned about the increase in the number of women.”
The unpredictability of knowing where to sleep or when to shower is part of the daily routine for more than 4,700 people who used care centers and services in 2024, an increase of 40% compared to 2022. The data used correspond to the National Institute of Statistics’ survey set in cities with a population of more than 20,000. The study was based on the definition of homelessness from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and includes people living directly on the streets or in emergency resources, as well as those residing in institutions or temporary accommodation. It also includes situations of unsafe or inappropriate housing, such as cases of domestic violence, overcrowding, or risk of eviction.
Social, demographic and economic profile
The data indicate the multifactorial nature of this phenomenon. Having a job or income no longer guarantees avoiding the street. 80% of people surveyed claim to have some sort of income; Of them, 44% declare that they have regular work, and the rest have temporary or irregular jobs.
Homeless people in Catalonia
% of respondents. 2022 data
Source: State of Catalonia based on the Homeless Survey (INE) / EL PAÍS
According to the report, 78% of the displaced in Catalonia hold Spanish or European citizenship. “Immigration may be an element, but it is not the only element,” said Mónica Martinez Bravo, Minister of Social Rights. “Many people associate it with a stereotype about immigration that does not exist.”
The instability of accommodation is also crucial. 62% live in community centres, 24% in temporary apartments and 12% in public places, where presence is more visible but the vast majority (92%) are registered somewhere. Regarding age, 79% of them are between 30 and 54 years old.
Causes and consequences
In Catalonia, the most common reason in 2022 for people ending up on the street was eviction (32%), twice as much as in Spain as a whole, a difference attributed to the sharp rise in housing prices, especially in major cities. Added to this is termination of the lease (16%) and inability to pay for the house (14%). In total, three factors directly related to access to housing explain 62% of cases. Other frequent causes, affecting about 20% of people, are job loss, relationship breakdown, migration, and health problems. Less common but commonly associated reasons for homelessness also appear, such as addiction, domestic violence, remaining in prison, or leaving a juvenile center.
One of the report’s conclusions highlights the extreme loneliness that many people face in this situation, as they have no friends or family to share with. Counselor Martinez Bravo said: “There are cases of atrophy of the vocal cords because they have no one to talk to. More than 56% declare that they have no one to turn to.”
Getting off the street becomes increasingly difficult and difficult: more than 78% of those interviewed have been living on the street for more than a year. Among the main reasons identified by interviewees, the majority cite housing-related issues.
Challenges ahead
Given the sparse data in the various surveys conducted by the National Institute of Statistics, the state advocates that this phenomenon requires annual monitoring and a unified information system. The Department was informed that, based on a clear picture of the problem, it would be necessary to better design effective policies that would reduce homelessness. Officials admit that “current surveys are very limited, with little repetition and rely on a small number of interviews.”
The action plan is based on three axes: improving information, coordination between different fields, and prevention. Coordination will fall under the responsibility of a new independent office that will centralize projects and policies related to housing, health, childhood and other areas that intersect with the reality of homelessness. “I don’t know if we can eliminate it, but we can control it better with resources like temporary rooms,” Moreno said.
The prevention axis will be directed towards a comprehensive model that includes free legal assistance, mediation and advice on housing issues. In specific cases, temporary rent payment is being considered, with priority given to municipalities with the highest housing emergency rates.