Caritas highlights homelessness as a complex social and residential crisis through its campaign on the Day of the Homeless

Caritas has launched a campaign to highlight the growing issue of homelessness, emphasizing the deep social and residential crisis affecting increasing numbers of people and families. Key factors contributing to this situation include job loss, the high cost of housing, evictions, and forced migration. The campaign, titled “A home, a place to belong to,” is part of Caritas’ efforts to raise awareness on the occasion of the Day of the Homeless, which will be observed next Sunday, the 25th.

This year’s campaign focuses on the importance of community and belonging, underscoring that a home is not merely a physical space but also a place where individuals feel safe, welcomed, and recognized. The campaign’s manifesto, read by Rosa García, director of Caritas Diocesana de Albacete, highlights the loss of family support, protective networks, and the certainty of having a place in the world to live with dignity.

Caritas invites the public to broaden their perspective on homelessness, recognizing that it is more than the absence of a roof. The organization emphasizes that the lack of a stable and secure home hinders individuals from developing a life project. The campaign also seeks to bring attention to the often-overlooked realities of those living in precarious conditions, such as shacks, caravans, or overcrowded spaces.

According to the European typology on Sinhogarism and Residential Exclusion (ETHOS), homelessness encompasses four main categories: people in street situations, without housing, in unsafe housing, and in inadequate housing. While those living on the street are the most visible, others in precarious or unsafe housing remain largely unseen. All these situations share the common thread of lacking a secure and adequate home.

The campaign seeks to challenge the prejudices and discrimination that often accompany homelessness, advocating for a more compassionate and inclusive approach. By focusing on what unites people and the value of community, Caritas aims to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience behind the statistics.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)