Barcelona homeless crisis has triggered a €60 million emergency response plan after street sleeping figures surged by 23% in just one year.
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According to La Vanguardia, the city now counts 1,583 people sleeping rough, with numbers peaking at 1,615 during August.
This dramatic increase represents a troubling trend for Barcelona’s social services.
Furthermore, the current figures show a staggering 140% rise compared to 2008 levels, when only 658 individuals were recorded as homeless.
Barcelona Homeless Crisis Demands Immediate Action
The municipal Commission for Social Rights approved the comprehensive plan on Tuesday following a proposition from the BComú group. Consequently, the initiative will channel €60 million annually toward what officials describe as an “effective and structural response to the current emergency.”
The funding package includes adding 350 new homes to the city’s housing stock specifically designated for homeless individuals. Additionally, the plan mandates opening three new specialised centres: one in Magòria for homeless people with substance use issues, another exclusively for women, and a third for young people experiencing street homelessness or severe residential exclusion.
The proposal passed with only Vox voting against, while the PSC abstained. Interestingly, the measure forms part of BComú’s conditions for supporting the city’s 2026 municipal budgets.
Meanwhile, the city’s existing homelessness budget for 2025 stands at €51 million, representing an 89% increase compared to a decade ago. However, advocates argue this Barcelona homeless crisis requires even greater investment given the accelerating numbers.
The plan also addresses practical needs through expanding the network of lockers and storage facilities across district equipment. This initiative aims to provide safe spaces where homeless individuals can store belongings with dignity.
Janet Sanz of BComú clarified that her group’s support for next year’s budgets depends on meeting several conditions, including this homeless response plan and reviving green axis projects in Sants-Creu Coberta and Passeig Maragall.
Raquel Gil of the PSC, while abstaining, acknowledged sharing concerns about the Barcelona homeless crisis. She emphasised that responsibility for addressing the issue remains shared across political lines, noting that without approved budgets, new investment becomes impossible.
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