A worrying situation
The Barcelona Grievance Board has denounced that the actions of the Catalan capital’s City Council towards homeless people are excessively punitive. According to a report issued recently, up to 42 administrative sanctions have been imposed on the same person in relation to their homelessness situation. This solely punitive approach does not adequately address the needs of this group and does not offer real solutions to address this problem.
A strategy to rethink
The Sindicatura de Greuges urges the security and social services services of Barcelona City Council to change their strategy towards homeless people. The goal is to avoid revictimizing these people and to address their vulnerability more comprehensively. It is necessary for the City Council to offer more municipal services for this group and not focus solely on imposing sanctions.
A regulation that does not take reality into account
The municipal coexistence ordinance prohibits certain behaviors in public spaces, such as sleeping on benches or making inappropriate use of them. However, the Sindicatura de Greuges points out that this regulation does not take into account the reality of homeless people, who do not have a private space to meet their basic needs. It is important that a sufficient public network is developed so that these people can sleep and maintain their hygiene. Until this happens, it is not fair to impose sanctions that only contribute to social exclusion.
The importance of awareness and non-discrimination
The Sindicatura de Greuges also highlights the importance of avoiding discriminatory behavior on the part of the Guardia Urbana agents. It is necessary to investigate whether there are agents who act maliciously and with aporophobic motives, that is to say, with prejudices towards the poor or vulnerable people. In addition, it is essential that the City Council raise awareness in the neighborhood to reduce the stigma associated with this group.
The importance of social intervention
It is essential that Barcelona City Council and social services act proactively to address the needs of homeless people. They need to be provided with support and resources to overcome their vulnerable situation. This involves providing them with access to decent housing, health services and social assistance. Only then can we work effectively to achieve lasting solutions to this problem.
