The shortage of available accommodations in Barcelona is impacting families of patients undergoing medical treatments in the city.

In 2024, various associations and foundations reported having to deny 185 requests for housing due to a lack of available units, representing a 16% increase compared to the previous year.

Despite this, these organizations provided over 66,000 overnight stays.

Social entities are raising concerns over the growing difficulty in meeting the accommodation demand.

This issue affects hundreds of individuals traveling to Barcelona each year for complex medical procedures.

Patients are referred to the city’s top-tier hospitals from various parts of Catalonia, other autonomous communities, and even from abroad.

The situation is compounded by the high costs of hotels in Barcelona, as well as the challenges posed by uncertain rental durations, making it difficult for families to find affordable housing close to healthcare facilities.

The economic implications for patients and their families are significant.

Eurnice Blanco, chief of social work at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, acknowledges the financial strain that comes with illness and displacement, highlighting the loss of regular income and the rise in living expenses.

Over the past year, social organizations accommodated 838 different patients, with 651 finding refuge in entity-operated resources while others benefited from hotel agreements that provided nearly-free lodging.

In total, around 2,000 individuals, including accompanying family members, received assistance.

The average length of stay in the accommodations is 33 days.

The Jubert Figueras Foundation is among those providing housing solutions, offering shared apartments for families of hospitalized patients.

Such accommodations are increasingly in demand.

Alba Sogués, a social worker at the foundation, noted the importance of providing such housing, stating that many patients choose to travel to Barcelona specifically for treatments available only in this city.

Duration of stays varies according to medical treatments and conditions, ranging from a few days for diagnostic tests to several months or even up to a year for transplants.

The shared spaces create a unique bond among families who encounter similar challenges during treatment.

One patient, Jesús, expressed gratitude for the shared experience, stating, "Even though we don't know each other, there is a union."

Tatiana Olano, a 56-year-old leukemia patient, required a bone marrow transplant from a non-related donor sourced by the Josep Carreras Foundation, traveling over 160 kilometers from her home for treatment.

Following her transplant, patients are generally required to stay near the hospital for a few months to monitor for complications or emergencies.

In her case, she needed 109 days of solidarity accommodation, balancing assistance between Vall d'Hebron and the foundation.

The overarching goal of these entities is to alleviate hospital pressure in Barcelona by providing housing for displaced patients referred by hospital social services.

These organizations emphasize that coordination between medical science and social support is crucial for ensuring equitable care and preventing any patient or family from being left without protection.

While advancements in medical techniques have increased transplant availability and at-home treatments, the high cost of housing necessitates greater access to residential resources.

To facilitate this access, social entities are calling on the public health system to be responsible for offering solidarity accommodation services.