Reception in municipalities and capitals

The project

Refugees, in the first instance, arrive in large cities in the region. In a second stage, an attempt is made to distribute them across the territory with the collaboration of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Committee for the reception of refugees and mentors of the Mentoring program), Town Councils, County Councils, the Service of Public Occupancy of Catalonia (SOC), social organizations for the reception of refugees, neighborhood organizations. The program in small municipalities and county capitals in Catalonia, through different public administrations and social agents,  is trying to achieve that refugee families can access to the labor market and housing, by avoiding concentrations in the big cities and at the same time, to benefit depopulated villages with their presence. The aim is to facilitate access to housing and labor market integration in small municipalities since the metropolitan areas, such as Barcelona, involve high rents for housing and the opportunities for finding a job are less likely to happen. 

It is based on the fact that the environment in small municipalities facilitates the access to housing, employment and the creation of a social network is much easier than in the metropolitan areas. An additional fact is that small municipalities are facing a great risk of depopulation. The provision of support to migrant families with children is beneficial for both sides, the migrant families or individuals itself and also to the host society, by securing a durable solution to public services, such as schools, health centers and other. An added value is also the fact that small municipalities will benefit of a diversity of cultures.  

The impact of the good practice

This project has been promoted in different regions of Catalonia, especially in Terra Alta, Les Garrigues, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà, La Segarra and Ripollès.