The Sitges Town Council, through both its governing council and the department of social rights, is continuing its plan to address homelessness in the town, with a long-term action plan that includes a care and support project for people living on the streets, and managed by a social entity to monitor this group.
The social entity, specialised in homelessness, is made up of social workers and educators and they can carry out tasks to accompany people to get their ID in order, or go to the doctor or social services.
The aim is to try to have their basic needs covered, which includes a social canteen (for people referred by Social Services) and a shower service (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-11am at the Pins Vens Sports Complex). Along with these services, the people at risk of social exclusion can also receive legal or mental health advice.
Parallel to this, co-existence is also being worked on between those at risk of social exclusion and the local neighbourhoods in general, with actions related to hygiene on public roads.
The Local Police and the cleaning service of the local council, for example, have recently carried out joint work to evacuate the area of the Racó de la Calma, of materials and people, and have cleaned the area. This action is also part of the collaboration with the Museums of Sitges to preserve a heritage space.
The action in Racó de la Calma, in which the police carried out surveillance tasks, had also been carried out on previous occasions in this area, as well as in other areas of the town such as Plaça Indústria, Plaça del Pou Vedre or the Oasis complex.
Sitges currently has 19 homeless people officially accounted for. To try and change this situation, municipal social services offer help to this group, especially during extreme cold weather episodes, although many refuse to spend the night in municipal spaces.
Homelessness includes both homeless people who live on the street and also people who do not have the minimum housing conditions that allow them to live with dignity, such as those who live with a group and share a single room or are in occupied housing, among others.
The local council is promoting a ‘recovery process’ – and part of this action plan was to also create seven places at the Artisan Fair-Market, especially for the group of vulnerable people.
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