There are now over 10,000 people living in the streets, according to Cáritas Diocesana de Almeria, the Christian charity, who add that over 25,000 houses in the province have been seized by the financial institutions and are lying empty.
The charity estimates that 7,000 of these homeless live in the plastic greenhouses of the Poniente, over El Ejido way, and the others are scattered around the major urban areas.
Many of these people are illegal immigrants, but the number of Spanish who are on the streets, usually after losing their houses and jobs, is on the increase.
The Charity launched this survey in order to bolster a new campaign it is running with local priests to inform the homeless of the health rights and to encourage greater effort from the local social services.
In general, local social services in Spain aren’t expected -or encouraged- to look after or provide shelter for homeless or destitute.
The nuns at San Isidro collect and distribute to the homeless immigrant workers in Almeria. Call Hermana Puri to donate 606 923 612