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Diari de Catalunya

Girona and Salt to Conduct Nighttime Homeless Count on May 21

This joint initiative aims to gather updated data on homelessness, a growing phenomenon in the region.

Generic image of a blurred nocturnal urban scene with soft lights.
IA

Generic image of a blurred nocturnal urban scene with soft lights.

The cities of Girona and Salt will carry out a nighttime count of homeless individuals on May 21, with the aim of collecting updated data on homelessness and analyzing its evolution.

This initiative, which has been conducted in Girona in previous years (2016, 2022, and 2024), will extend to Salt for the first time. The main objective is to obtain an updated "snapshot" of the situation and establish comparisons to understand the evolution of this phenomenon, which has shown an upward trend in recent years.
The count will take place during the night, starting at 8 PM and is expected to last until after midnight. Volunteers are currently being sought to participate in this task, which will be carried out with the collaboration of various involved entities. In Girona, the city will be divided into 34 different zones, with the meeting point at the Espai Cívic Mercadal-Barri Vell. In Salt, four to five zones are planned, although the meeting point has not yet been announced. Teams will consist of a minimum of three or four people.
Historical data from Girona show a significant increase in homeless people sleeping on the streets. While approximately sixty people were counted in 2016, the number rose to 86 in 2022, and in the latest count in 2024, 111 were detected. This represents an 85% increase in eight years. Social organizations warn that this upward trend will likely continue in the upcoming count.
It is important to note that the count conducted by the Girona City Council, with the collaboration of La Sopa (and the Consorci de Benestar Social in Salt), only includes people sleeping rough. Other organizations, such as the Red Cross, record a considerably higher number of homeless individuals, as they also include those who spend the night in abandoned warehouses or buildings. By the end of last year, the Red Cross detected over 650 people in this situation in the city.
The counting methodology is based on direct observation and qualitative surveys that help understand how long people have been on the streets, their daily activities, and associated risks. This data is crucial for "guiding decision-making" and promoting "more effective and adapted social policies" for the needs of the collective. The Girona City Council has repeatedly called for greater involvement from other administrations, such as the Generalitat and the Diputació, in addressing this issue. Furthermore, the count helps to "increase visibility and raise awareness" among citizens about the impacts of homelessness and the difficulties in accessing housing.

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