The impact of the crisis on homelessness in Spain: social intervention in a context of greater need and fewer resources

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to deepen the understanding of the impact of the social and economic crisis on homeless people in Spain. To this end we present the results of research carried out prior to the crisis and later updated in the midst of the economic recession, underscoring the main results obtained in both periods and tracing their evolution. The number of homeless people in Spain has risen as a result of the crisis. Moreover, while some characteristics of this group remain the same, others have changed. Hence, difficulties in access to the labour market and cuts in certain economic benefits are resulting in an increase in the duration of social inclusion processes. This results in a worsening of the personal situation of the homeless, especially in relation to mental illness and substance abuse. The immigrant population is the group most affected by these impacts. The situation clearly demonstrates the need to reflect on how to deal with the problem of homelessness in Spain, and to rethink the way professionals intervene, especially during periods of economic recession.

En este artículo se pretende profundizar en el impacto que está teniendo la crisis económica y social sobre las personas sin hogar en España. Para ello, se presentan los resultados de una investigación realizada en el momento previo a la crisis y su actualización en pleno periodo de recesión económica, destacando los principales resultados en ambas en clave evolutiva. Como consecuencia de la crisis se detecta un aumento del número de personas sin hogar. Igualmente, y aunque se mantienen algunas características del colectivo, otras se han modificado. Así, las dificultades de acceso al mercado laboral y el recorte en ciertas prestaciones económicas están haciendo que la duración de los procesos de incorporación social aumente. Este contexto está haciendo que la situación personal de las personas sin hogar también empeore, sobre todo en aspectos como las patologías mentales o los consumos. El colectivo inmigrante es el que más intensamente está sufriendo este impacto. Este escenario muestra la necesidad de reflexionar en torno a la atención a las personas sin hogar, así como un cierto replanteamiento en el modo de intervenir de los profesionales, sobre todo en un momento de crisis como el actual.

Keywords:

• homelessness
• economic crisis
• social exclusion
• social services
• Spain

Palabras clave:

• sinhogarismo
• crisis económica
• exclusión social
• servicios sociales
• España

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Gorka Moreno Márquez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the University of the Basque Country. He teaches on official master's degree courses in areas like social participation, immigration or human resource management. Since 2011 he has been director of the Basque Immigration Observatory. His areas of research are immigration, social exclusion and social policies. He has published articles on these questions in scientific journals and books.

Xabier Aierdi Urraza is a Tenured Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the University of the Basque Country. He lectures in sociology and teaches on official master's degree courses in areas such as Development, Immigration and Human Resource Management. From 2003 to 2011 he was director of the Basque Immigration Observatory. His areas of research include immigration, social exclusion and ethnicity. He has published several papers in scientific journals and books focusing on these issues.

Notes

1. This federation Works at the European level with the aim of influencing the public policies of the European Union and also to promote coordination amongst the bodies that form part of it. Furthermore, it elaborates reports and research projects in the field of homelessness and publishes different materials related to the issue. For more information, go to: www.feantsa.org

2. Abbreviated information on people interviewed and literal citations:

• Interview 1: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 2: University of Basque Country.

• Interview 3: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 4: Bizkaia Provincial Council.

• Interview 5: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 6: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 7: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 8: Getxo City Council.

• Interview 9: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 10: Third-sector social organisation.

• Interview 11: Bilbao City Council.

• Interview 12: Bizkaia Provincial Council.

• Interview 13: Third-sector social organisation.