In the framework of the International Congress on Residential Inclusion, held in Valencia and organized by the Inter-University Chair of the Valencian Public System of Social Services of the University of Valencia, Raquel Sanz from SIIS - Research and Social Information Service - presented the results of a pioneering project on nighttime re-housing of homeless people. This study, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, is a key initiative for analyzing and addressing residential exclusion in Spain.
The project, which was implemented in 27 cities across the country, including six municipalities in the Valencian Community, utilised a methodology of night counts to quantify and analyse the situation of people experiencing housing exclusion, both on the streets and in shelters and inclusion centres. This innovative model allowed for the identification of 2,097 individuals in the region during the autumn of 2023, with 52% of them located in public spaces and the remainder in accommodation centres and social inclusion flats.
During his intervention, Sanz highlighted the collaboration between local organisations and Third Sector entities in the Valencian Community, with the active participation of over a thousand volunteers. The research revealed key data regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of the homeless population, evidencing a high proportion of individuals from foreign origins and a significant representation of young people under the age of 30.
The results of the project provide a solid foundation for planning inclusive policies in the residential sector and improving social care services, marking a fundamental step in the fight against homelessness and social exclusion in Spain.
