The study, based on interviews with 602 households and 1,519 individuals, determines that four out of ten residents in the Barcelona diocese live in a situation of precarious integration, facing instability in areas such as employment, health, or housing. Only 45.4% of the population enjoys “full” integration, according to the organization. Precariousness disproportionately affects the foreign population, which has a social exclusion rate twice as high as that of native citizens. You can check the Càritas alert here.
Housing is identified by Càritas as the “main factor of inequality,” with 26% of the population (over 730,000 people) suffering difficulties in this area. The report warns that renting has become a “poverty trap,” as the risk of poverty for tenants (22.3%) is almost triple that of homeowners (8.2%).
“"More than 15% of the population falls into severe poverty after assuming housing costs. The difference between living in rental or owned accommodation is a decisive factor in determining whether you are at risk of falling into a situation of social exclusion."
A total of 13.5% of citizens in the Barcelona diocese live in severe overcrowding, a situation that directly affects the most vulnerable. The head of the Social Area at Càritas emphasized the situation of minors.
“"In 9 out of 10 overcrowded households, children or adolescents live there. A child living in these conditions hardly has their rights guaranteed."
One of the most alarming conclusions is the loss of the “protective capacity” of employment. A striking 57.5% of people in social exclusion live in households where the head of the family is working, confirming that “working no longer saves from exclusion” and that saving is becoming an “impossible mission” for many families.
