Integrated Source Mapping for Unhoused Support
Under the Spanish Constitution, every citizen has the right to adequate housing and protection against eviction. However, housing insecurity and begging are significant issues in Spain, affecting approximately 30,000 people, with 2,000 to 9,000 living in Madrid. The majority are unemployed, middle-aged men, with only 3.2% working. Unhoused individuals are divided into two groups: chronic indigents who reject social services and those seeking help in shelters, with a better chance of reintegration.
In 2012, over 22,000 people experiencing homelessness used shelters, but Madrid’s 25 facilities with 1,803 beds fall short of the demand. Barriers such as overcrowding, pets, or substance use prevent many from accessing shelters, often leading to extended periods of being unhoused
Support is divided into social services (for reintegration) and direct action services (to aid self-reliance). However, a major issue is lack of information, particularly for those avoiding social services. Improved access, such as large-scale city maps of resources, could be highly beneficial.
PAH (Platform of People Affected by the Mortgage) is a Spanish grassroots group advocating for housing rights, supporting those facing eviction, and reclaiming vacant properties for people in need. Long-term periods of being unhoused often stems from the lack of permanent housing. Organizations like PAH offer innovative solutions, including mapping and listing vacant properties for potential use, but these resources are typically unavailable through official channels, limiting their reach to the homeless population.
The Unhoused Support Map is a practical tool for unhoused individuals, highlighting key Social Services locations, such as soup kitchens, clothing centers, day centers, public baths, and job reintegration facilities.
It also marks over 125 vacant properties owned by SAREB (the Society of Asset Management from Bank Restructuring, a state-created entity managing real estate assets from Spain’s financial crisis), offering potential housing solutions for users in need.
The map is available free of charge through kiosks or social centers and is not for sale or commercial use. For more information, visit: www.morelesshomeless.hotglue.me
This is an initiative of Pablo Encinas Alonso and Sonsoles Masiá in the realm of useful art.