Badalona B9 evictees have finally been relocated after a week of uncertainty, with 52 people now placed in temporary accommodation.
The breakthrough comes after dozens of migrants, expelled from the former B9 school building, spent nights sleeping under a motorway bridge or in tents.
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Social services and charities worked intensively to find solutions for this vulnerable group.
According to reports from Ara Cat, the Department of Social Rights and supporting organisations managed to secure housing resources. Consequently, a significant portion of the nearly hundred affected individuals now have a roof over their heads. The situation had become increasingly desperate, with many forced to sleep outdoors for almost a week.
Badalona B9 Evictees Face Community Resistance
Finding shelter proved challenging due to local opposition. Initially, a temporary emergency device was planned at the Parish of Mare de Déu de Montserrat in Badalona. However, pressure from some neighbourhood residents forced its suspension. Caritas Diocesana de Barcelona stated they suspended the plan to avoid adding suffering to the parish community and due to the violation of the right to hospitality.
The alliance of three entities—Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials, Fundació Llegat Roca i Pi, and Caritas—worked intensely with support from Badalona’s Christian community. Their priority remains guaranteeing the safety, dignity, and privacy of all affected people. Meanwhile, the specific type and location of the new accommodations have not been disclosed to protect those involved.
This incident highlights the broader pressures on housing and social services in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Furthermore, it follows recent tensions around refugee centres in Badalona, illustrating recurring challenges in managing migrant accommodation. The regional government’s Department of Social Rights and Inclusion provided financial support for the emergency response.
Police intervention occurred earlier this week when some former B9 residents attempted to occupy another disused educational centre in the city. Neighbours alerted authorities, and the Guardia Urbana, along with Mossos d’Esquadra public order units, carried out the eviction. The operation, involving around sixty people including former residents and activists, concluded without major incidents.
The former B9 institute, located on Avinguda Mònaco near the border with Santa Coloma de Gramenet, has been a focal point of social emergency discussions. This latest relocation effort for the Badalona B9 evictees offers temporary respite, but the search for permanent solutions continues amidst a complex social landscape.
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