The housing situation in Barcelona is reflected in the rise of individuals registered without a fixed address, known as the fictitious or social register. As of May, the city had 48,832 people enrolled under this category, a number that has multiplied twelvefold in a decade, up from just over 4,000 in 2016. This occurs when individuals are homeless or reside in properties where they are denied standard registration.
Historically, Barcelona has attracted individuals facing difficulties registering in surrounding metropolitan areas, which often refuse such applications. The city's social services have even encouraged these citizens to seek registration in the Catalan capital.
Two years ago, the City Council initiated a process to clean up the register, ensuring that registered individuals genuinely lived in the city. This led to the discontinuation of allowing registration at the premises of health and social entities if they did not provide lodging, a measure affecting approximately 1,700 people. Marta Clari, manager of social services, justified this change by stating that the original purpose of protecting infectious disease patients was no longer the primary concern, as Health ensures healthcare access regardless of registration status.
Changes were also made to the social register, increasing on-site inspections to verify residency. The approach shifted from random checks to periodic verifications to remove potentially false registrations. According to Clari, requests for social register entries have decreased from 75% to 55-60%, suggesting the measure may be deterring unjustified registrations.
Despite these changes, data indicates an overall increase in registrations without a fixed address, mirroring the growth in ordinary registrations. In May 2024, there were 45,000 individuals on the ordinary register. Of those registered without a fixed address, the majority (41,313) are residents with no connection to social services, while around 7,500 have an active case file.
Organizations like Arrels Fundació criticize that the changes to the register have complicated an essential process for vulnerable individuals. Robert Walker, head of the street team at Arrels, regrets that the verification checks cause stress and anxiety among the homeless, who may lose their phones or move frequently. He argues that services should adapt to people's needs, not the other way around.
