Authorities in Barcelona have started a new clean-up operation targeting the Zona Franca tent settlement. The group managing the industrial zone told homeless residents to leave the area for a short time. Security and cleaning teams arrived early Thursday morning at the end of Calle 2. They told rough sleepers to pack up their things and leave the site for the whole day. This allows for a full cleaning of the public space.
Temporary Displacement at the Zona Franca Tent Settlement
Officials stress that residents can come back and sleep in the same spot at night. The group insists this is not a permanent eviction. They call it a needed upkeep step to stop the area from getting worse. In addition, authorities plan similar regular operations for other places. These include the area around the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) headquarters.
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However, the news has caused worry among those living in the camp. Many residents have been there for months. They see the move as a way to bother them and break up their group. Staying together in the Zona Franca tent settlement gives them a feeling of safety. It also keeps them near a nearby help centre. There they can get food, charge mobile phones, and store important items. Notably, some residents have even started going to Catalan classes nearby.
Escalating Crisis in Sants-Montjuïc
This latest operation follows action last week. For example, authorities cleared about 175 people from the flowerbeds of Calle 2 for pest control. That move led many to go to the end of the road. Consequently, they formed what observers call the largest tent settlement ever seen in Barcelona.
The handling of homelessness is becoming a key issue on the city’s political agenda. Data from Jordi Martí, president of the Junts group, shows a sharp rise. The number of homeless people in the Sants-Montjuïc district has gone up by 134% since the start of the current term.
In response to the growing crisis, the Social Rights Commission approved a plan. The commission, led by BComú with support from Junts, ERC, and the PP, wants the City Council to open a new low-demand help centre in the district. Moreover, officials approved a full plan this Wednesday. The plan deals with the rise of shanty towns on Montjuïc mountain. It calls for quick action from the city government. Meanwhile, efforts like a recent agreement to turn unused properties into public housing show other ways to tackle the housing crisis.
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