Two years after the last count, the organization, with the help of nearly 600 volunteers, surveyed the streets at night to assess the state of homelessness. This 17% increase in Gràcia, although representing less than 4% of the city's total, reflects an upward trend in social vulnerability.
Globally in Barcelona, the figures are much more alarming. The city has gone from 1,384 to 1,982 people sleeping rough, representing a 43.2% increase compared to the 2023 data. According to the organization, this rise demonstrates the necessity of adequate public policies.
“"take into account in their policies the people who live on the street"
To reverse this situation, the Arrels Foundation proposes several urgent measures. These include investing in public housing, modifying the regulations of the Social Emergency Board, and opening low-demand spaces.
Furthermore, the entity asks administrations not to condition access to resources based on registration, to develop civility ordinances that do not criminalize living on the street, and to approve the anti-homelessness bill, which has been pending in Parliament for almost four years.
