Social entities that house patients displaced for medical treatment in the metropolitan area of Barcelona left 259 families without a place last year. The figure represents a 40% increase compared to the 185 rejected applications in 2024.
The increase comes at a time of expansion for the reception network. Foundations went from seven to ten in one year and assisted 1,072 families in 2025, 77 more than in 2024. Even so, the supply did not cover all the demand in a city where the cost of accommodation complicates long stays related to transplants, diagnostic tests, or serious complications.
Ten foundations assisted 1,072 families, but 259 were left out
The ten organizations that provide this service are Jubert Figueras, Hospitalitat Mare de Déu de Lourdes, Josep Carreras contra la Leucèmia, Inés Arnaiz, Oncologia Infantil Enriqueta Villavecchia, Associació Catalana del Fetge, AFANOC, Casa Ronald McDonald, Xana, and Petit Món.
Their capacity also grew. They currently manage 55 accommodations and 156 rooms spread throughout the metropolitan area, compared to 49 accommodations and 143 rooms the previous year.
With this network, the entities facilitated more than 86,685 overnight stays in 2025, equivalent to 38,080 days. In 2024, there had been 82,349 overnight stays and 35,827 days.
The majority of the families attended were housed in apartments managed by the organizations themselves. There were 907 cases, while another 165 families used hotels through agreements.
The average stay in apartments reached 33 days and some cases extend up to two years
The duration of stays varies greatly depending on the treatment. For some displacements, one or two days are enough for diagnostic tests, but transplants or serious complications can extend the stay for one or two years.
This intensive use explains part of the pressure on places that serve patients from various locations. 60% come from other areas of Catalonia, 38% from other regions of Spain, and 2% from other countries.
Furthermore, the profile of the people attended has changed. In 2025, there were 670 adult patients and 402 minors, with a progressive increase in demand from adults.
"He is no longer here, but he will always be grateful to the foundation for the work they did. They gave us peace and tranquility in a very difficult time" - Tatiana, mother of a Colombian patient who died from congenital heart disease
CatSalut expanded aid for maintenance to displaced adult patients on April 17
Since April 17, CatSalut covers the maintenance of adult patients displaced for medical treatment. Until that date, the aid was intended for minors, people with more than 66% disability, or with degree III dependency.
Entities attribute the increased need for accommodation to the rise in transplants, the price of housing in Barcelona, the difficulty in renting apartments for uncertain periods, and the social precariousness of some families.
In the case of hotel agreements, the joint savings for families reached 7,235,000 euros, calculated on an average price of 190 euros per night in Barcelona last year.