Barcelona homelessness has surged dramatically, with official figures revealing a 27% increase in just one year.

According to data from the Barcelona City Council, the number of people sleeping rough in the Catalan capital has risen from 1,245 in 2024 to 1,581 in October 2025, painting a stark picture of a deepening social emergency.

This alarming rise is attributed to a perfect storm of unaffordable housing and precarious employment.

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Consequently, the city’s streets are becoming home to more individuals and families. “The machine of throwing people onto the street does not stop,” denounced a spokesperson from the Arrels Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting homeless people in Barcelona.

Root Causes of the Barcelona Homelessness Surge

The primary driver is the city’s severe housing crisis. A recent EU Council report found that Barcelona residents spend a staggering 74% of their salary on rent. Furthermore, the city is Spain’s third most expensive for property, with square metre prices averaging €4,719. This financial pressure leaves many with no safety net.

“There are not enough policies to prevent this situation,” explained Bea Fernández, director of the Arrels Foundation. She criticises systems that continue to push people into homelessness, noting the profile is becoming more diverse. The crisis now increasingly affects young people and women, not just the traditional demographic of middle-aged men.

This trend is mirrored in the city’s social services. Meanwhile, use of soup kitchens increased by 7.5% in the first five months of 2025, with nearly 510,000 meals served. The council currently maintains 2,860 residential places, a number expanded during critical weather periods.

However, Fernández suggests the official count is a minimum figure. She also believes recent council interventions in public spaces have displaced homeless populations to more isolated areas like Montjuïc or Collserola, rather than solving the problem. “They are moving the problem, not addressing it,” she stated, advocating for social solutions over policing.

The situation is particularly dangerous for homeless women. A recent Hospital Clínic report highlighted that sexual assaults on homeless people in Barcelona account for 3.5% of the total. Of 23 victims in the first ten months of 2025, 93% of women and 71% of men were raped. The number of assaulted men has risen sharply from just one case in 2024.

As winter approaches, the council activates its cold weather plan from December to March. This includes opening the Emergency Night Shelter Centre (CANE) with 100 places. The plan escalates through preventive, alert, and emergency phases as temperatures drop.

The scale of the Barcelona homelessness crisis underscores the urgent need for structural solutions. Addressing the root causes, particularly the speculative housing market, is critical. Without significant intervention, the numbers are likely to continue growing, further straining the city’s social fabric and support services.

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