Poverty and Homelessness in Spain: Analysis and Factors
Poverty in Spain: A Multifaceted Issue
D – Place of Residence: Rural, Semi-Urban, or Urban
The vast majority (82%) of those experiencing poverty reside in rural areas. These individuals often face higher rates of disease, disability, loneliness, and isolation. However, severe poverty is somewhat mitigated by pensions in these areas.
In contrast, the outskirts of large cities exhibit much higher levels of severe poverty, accompanied by serious issues such as alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, prostitution, and crime. Despite these challenges, the coverage of social services of all kinds is significantly greater in urban settings.
E – Regional Disparities in Poverty Across Spain
- North (Galicia to Navarra): Poverty decreases from Galicia to Navarra, reflecting a relatively privileged position. Galicia has the highest poverty rate, exceeding the national average.
- Castile: Poverty is more extensive in Castilla-La Mancha but less economically intense, often characterized by older individuals protected by pensions.
- Madrid: Lower percentage of poverty overall, but with a higher concentration of severe poverty.
- Aragon: Poverty levels vary depending on whether the population is rural or urban, each with its own constraints.
- Levante (Murcia to Catalonia): Poverty severity increases from South to North, with Murcia experiencing higher rates than Catalonia. The situation mirrors that of Madrid and Catalonia.
- South (Extremadura, Andalusia, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla): This region experiences the highest intensity of poverty, except for the Canary Islands. Notably, 35% of Spain’s poor reside in the South.
F – Employment Status and Poverty
Unemployment is strongly linked to educational deficiencies. The most educated individuals often secure better jobs, while those with less education are frequently excluded from the labor market. Approximately 75-80% of unemployed Spaniards live below the poverty line, earning less than 50% of the national disposable income.
The Homeless: An Extreme Case of Social Exclusion
Homelessness represents an extreme form of social exclusion, encompassing a lack of access to education, training, employment, housing, and property. This often leads to:
- Inclusion in specialized institutions due to societal rejection (e.g., ethnic discrimination).
- Difficulties accessing general social services, healthcare, and legal and administrative support.
- Challenges related to gender, family and social life, social security, and media representation.
1 – The Sociological Concept of Homelessness
Homelessness is primarily an urban phenomenon, characteristic of industrial society, although it can also occur in rural areas, particularly among transient individuals. Homeless individuals often refuse to be passive observers and choose to live on the streets almost continuously. They rarely seek refuge in homeless shelters and may rationalize their situation as a chosen lifestyle they can abandon at will.
In 1992, the Council of Europe defined this population as individuals or families without a home, forced to live on the streets or as vagrants. They may be temporarily housed in public or private shelters, with volunteers, or with friends and family. These individuals often adopt a survival-based lifestyle in extreme poverty and face significant stigmatization. Their experiences are frequently the result of accumulated deficiencies, failures, and problems that have led them to a life on the streets.