A group of migrants evicted from the old B9 institute in Badalona spent the night under a C-31 highway exit due to heavy rains and police prohibition on camping in the square. The Generalitat and entities like Cáritas and Red Cross have agreed on an emergency device to provide temporary shelter. Mayor Xavier García Albiol plans to dismantle the tents, but with caution due to bad weather.
On Wednesday, December 18, the Mossos d'Esquadra evicted the old B9 institute in Badalona, where nearly 400 people, mostly migrants, lived. The operation, celebrated by Mayor Xavier García Albiol, left dozens without immediate shelter. After setting up tents in the square in front of the building, the Urban Guard prevented them from continuing on Friday, forcing them to seek refuge under exit 210 of the C-31 in the Sant Roc neighborhood.
Torrential rains on Friday and Saturday worsened the situation. Civil Protection activated the Inuncat plan and sent ES-Alert messages to mobiles in Badalona and nearby areas like Vallès Oriental and Maresme, recommending avoiding travel and flood-prone zones. Up to 66.8 liters per square meter were recorded in some areas, with incidents like water leaks and basement flooding.
Albiol announced he will order the removal of the tents to prevent a permanent camp, stating: “The occupation of public space cannot be normalized.” He criticized UN rapporteurs who condemned the eviction as a “grave violation” of rights, calling it “a joke” and noting that 30-40 people were already receiving social attention. The building will be used for a police station.
Faced with municipal inaction, the Generalitat, along with Cáritas, Red Cross, Sant Joan de Déu Social Services, and Fundació Llegat Roca i Pi, activated a night shelter service from 20:00 to 08:00 on Saturday in a church-provided facility, supported by the Flore daytime center. Additional entities like CUP and CCOO offer complementary resources. The Department of Social Rights emphasizes the need for structural solutions to homelessness, adding to weekly meetings with municipal services since September.
The Sindicat d'Habitatge Socialista de Catalunya denounces “police harassment” and warns that people cannot “disappear.” Councilor Mònica Martínez Bravo urged Albiol to open a shelter, and the Parliament demands residential alternatives. The PPC supports the mayor, seeing it as a model against illegal occupations.
