According to Barcelona City Council data from November, 283 people were sleeping on the streets in the Sant Martí district, with 96 located specifically in Vila Olímpica. These settlements, totaling at least 50 tents, are now visible in green areas, a shift from previous years when they were hidden in discreet locations.
“"I have papers and a job. I am a cook in a restaurant in Raval. But I have three children in the Philippines and I also have to help my father... so I cannot rent anything."
The situation has prompted strong neighborhood reaction. During a recent meeting of ten property owner communities on Nova Icària avenue, residents reported incidents including disputes involving knives, people cooking in public, and the discovery of syringes. They agreed to systematically report all incidents to 112 to ensure administrative awareness.
Other residents of the encampments, such as Hassan (a Guinean mechanic) and Yasid (an Algerian welder/carpenter), explain that irregular employment or expired documentation prevent them from accessing formal rental housing, even if they can afford the monthly cost of a room. Municipal social services are attempting outreach but cannot force individuals to accept assistance.
Jordi Giró, president of the neighborhood association, stated that citizen concern escalated about a year ago, coinciding with evictions in other parts of the city. While cleaning efforts have improved recently, Giró emphasizes that this is "a country problem, a problem much more complex than it may seem".
