Badalona's Folre day centre, which assists approximately 40 homeless individuals daily, announced plans to secure a new, larger facility in the city. This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for homelessness support.

The announcement came during the centre's 30th-anniversary celebration on Tuesday. Folre currently supports around 250 people annually. Project leaders confirmed the need to grow to continue "tackling homelessness in Badalona."

Salvador Maneu, Director of Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials Barcelona, stated, "We want to grow the project and reach more people, but we need the complicity, support, and cooperation of the City Council and the Generalitat." The centre faces waiting lists, showing the need for more resources.

Addressing Rising Homelessness

The Folre centre provides a safe, dignified space for people to meet basic needs and start personal recovery. Services include breakfast, showers, laundry, a wardrobe, and storage for belongings. It also offers social information and advice.

The initiative forms part of the Bisbe Carrera Inclusion Programme. This programme helps homeless individuals in Badalona. It also offers residential accommodation to 28 people across 26 inclusion flats.

Mar Alsamora, Head of Social Action at Fundación Roca i Pi, highlighted the worsening situation. She noted that 110 people sleep on the streets in Badalona. This represents a 22% increase from the previous count.

"Homelessness is a violation of rights and not an inevitable reality," Alsamora stated. "A coordinated, structural, and sustained response over time is necessary between administrations and social entities."

Government Support for Expansion

Both municipal and regional government officials expressed support for the centre's expansion. Mònica Martínez Bravo, Councillor for Social Rights for the Generalitat de Catalunya, said, "It is a source of pride to have projects like these in Badalona, in Catalonia." She added, "When there are movements that want to dehumanise people, we must cling to hope, as we are all human beings."

Eva Guillén, Fifth Deputy Mayor of Badalona City Council, affirmed the municipal government's commitment. "The municipal government wants the project to continue being a reference," Guillén said. "We join this need to expand the project to support and offer opportunities to more people of Badalona."

Three Decades of Community Service

Folre started 30 years ago. A group of young volunteers from Sant Josep Parish in Badalona initiated the project. They aimed to help people sleeping on the streets. Initially, it operated from a small parish room. One of its first actions involved distributing sandwiches.

Xavier Oncins, Councillor for Cáritas Diocesana de Barcelona and a project founder, recalled the early days. "We were six young people from four parishes in Badalona, with great enthusiasm and a completely altruistic desire to help," he said.

The current centre has operated from its Mossèn Anton street location in the Centre neighbourhood for five years.

Badalona's Homelessness Challenges

Homelessness in Badalona has sparked several controversies. These have involved the municipal government, opposition parties, and social organisations. In late March, fifty local entities signed the 'Badalona Declaration'. This manifesto urged the local government to address homelessness.

The closure of Can Bofí Vell, the city's only municipal shelter, caused significant concern. The Síndica de Greuges de Catalunya (Catalan Ombudsman) launched an official investigation.

Other incidents include the eviction of hundreds of migrants from the former B9 institute in December 2025. The subsequent management of these displaced individuals also drew criticism.

In early 2026, the opening of the Colina sports centre to house homeless people during a cold weather operation also faced opposition. Reports indicated a lack of blankets and beds on the first night.

The number of homeless deaths on the streets reached six cases over several months. This prompted the opposition to force an extraordinary plenary session. They demanded explanations from the government. During this session, the Mayor announced the upcoming opening of the city's first municipal soup kitchen.

The search for a new, larger space for the Folre day centre represents a critical step. It aims to provide more comprehensive support to Badalona's vulnerable population. This expansion will help address the increasing challenges of homelessness in the city.

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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.