This November 23, like every year at this time, from Suara Cooperativa we have taken to the streets on the occasion of homelessness day to accompany people who find themselves in this situation to make it visible, a reality in which we are all exposed to find us.
Together with the Entities of the Homeless Persons Care Network (XAPSLL), an action was carried out in Plaza Sant Jaume in Barcelona to raise awareness about the situation of people living on the streets while claiming a unanimous cry : “No one homeless.”
The action began with a theatrical performance by a group of homeless people who accompany the Obra Social Santa Luisa de Marillac, in which the importance of their rights being at the center while not being left out was highlighted. of social services coverage. Subsequently, they distributed backpacks with drawings and messages, which they had made themselves, with the intention of letting citizens know their dreams and desires. Finally, the Engrescats human towers from the Ramon Llull University built a pillar and displayed the banner with the motto “No one without a home.”
An invisible reality
Most homelessness situations are invisible to our eyes because they are people who are forced to live in temporary accommodation services, in homes in which they are not sure of being able to continue living because they do not have a rental contract or are waiting. an eviction and, also, people who, due to the absence of other opportunities, live in inadequate housing.
These are situations that, in order to understand and collect data, were grouped into four broad categories: homelessness, homelessness, insecure housing, and inadequate housing. They are the ETHOS categories, which in Catalan means European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion, that were created in FEANTSA in 2005. And that we now use to study and design policies and services.
Although in the Spanish Constitution or the Statute of Autonomy we can read that people have the right to housing; This, in truth, is a guiding principle, since it is not a subjective right of people. This means that it is not enforceable or claimable in court. As long as housing is a market good, we must care for and accompany people who suffer situations of homelessness, which is the real problem, of a system that prioritizes personal profit for the people who make up this society.
Unfortunately, it is not a new situation, but its forms have changed. Currently, after the chain of several crises (the economic crisis of 2008, the Covid pandemic and the current one marked by inflation), the economic situation has significantly reduced the salaries of working people at the same time as the housing market. offers inaccessible prices for more and more people. Work as a source of income, whose salaries do not increase according to the cost of living, is not enough and we see in the care resources that we manage where more and more people with work are coming, but who are in the toughest situation. of homelessness, which is not having a roof over your head or not being able to disconnect from the services where we are already serving them.
In the case of Barcelona, housing response is currently offered to 2,913 people, 4% more than the previous year. According to a survey carried out by the rent a home in Barcelona and cover basic needs.
At Suara Cooperativia we offer this support from all the levels we have at our disposal to address homelessness:
- From the care services to the people we manage: adapting care models, increasing the participation of the people cared for in their vital processes.
- Networking with entities and public administration as in the cases of XAPSLL, ECAS, FEANTSA, FEDAIA. One of the pillars of our action is intercooperation because, without a doubt, unity is strength and in the case of people experiencing homelessness, these alliances are essential to be able to offer them better support.
- With training actions for the cooperative's workers, so that they can offer the best possible support to those who are at risk of social exclusion or vulnerability
Housing is essential, but we also know that homelessness is not the only solution. It also requires the support of people who find themselves in these situations, who, like everyone, require having people who are their support network. From Suara Cooperativa we have been working for years and will continue to do so with a firm commitment to the people who find themselves in these situations, as well as to the entities and administrations that respond to homelessness.
Maite Mauricio
Suara Cooperativa expert in accompanying homeless people
