Bridging the first weeks after losing your home

Terms used

• Valoración — The valoración is an assessment interview with a social worker, who records your situation and decides what help to propose.
• Informe social — The informe social is the social worker's written report on your situation, used to support aid and referrals.
• Cita previa — The cita previa is an appointment booked in advance, by phone, online or in person.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall register of residents; registration gives you a certificate of address needed for most aid.
• Ayuda de emergencia social — The ayuda de emergencia social is a one-off payment from the council or region for people in urgent need.

Key rules

• Danger: If you are on the street or at risk of violence, call 112 or the municipal homeless service straight away.
• Padrón: Register in the padrón as soon as possible, because most aids depend on it.
• Local rules: Amounts, income limits and waiting times for emergency aid differ by council, and funds are limited.
• Parallel steps: Contact social services, a charity and the housing list at the same time rather than one after another.

Start with a safe place to sleep

Your first job is a safe bed for the first nights. Family or friends are the best option if they can host you. If not, a cheap hostel or pension works for a few nights. Roughly, a dorm bed costs 20–35 euros a night and a basic private room 35–70 euros, and prices are higher in Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearics and the Canaries. A room in a shared flat usually costs 300–700 euros a month in big cities. Short-term furnished rentals suit days or weeks but cost more.

If you are in real danger, sleeping on the street or facing violence, call 112 or go to the municipal homeless service (SAMUR Social in Madrid, with equivalents elsewhere). Do not wait for the steps below.

Do these in order, and overlap them

1. Book a valoración at social services. Do it early, and while you still have housing if you can. It is an interview with a social worker at the social services centre for your address. The worker reviews your housing, income, family, health, documents and support network, then writes it up in an informe social. Book by cita previa, by phone, on the council's website or in person. Waits run from days to several weeks, and urgent cases may be seen faster. Say clearly that your case is urgent.
2. Ask to register in the padrón. Most aids depend on it, so do it as soon as you can.
3. Contact a charity at the same time. Cáritas, Cruz Roja and similar organisations can give food and advice, and sometimes bed places. Charity beds are free or low cost, but limited and often time-limited. They are usually reached through a social services referral or the charity's own reception service.
4. Apply for ayuda de emergencia social. This is a one-off payment from your town council or regional social services. It can cover temporary lodging in a pension or hostal, rent arrears, utility bills, a deposit or first month's rent, and basic needs. Apply at your social services centre. A social worker assesses your case and proposes the aid. Amounts, income limits and processing time depend on the municipality, and funds are limited, so ask what applies locally.
5. Join the social housing list. This is the longer-term route, so register early.

Possible outcomes of the valoración include a referral to shelters or emergency housing, emergency financial aid, a place on the housing list, NGO support, or a personal plan.

Documents to have ready

Social services will ask for proof of padrón registration, ID, income details and evidence of your need. The documents list below sets them out.

Staying with friends or family

Staying with others does not by itself rule you out of help. But social services may treat family support as an alternative to a shelter, and shelters often put people sleeping rough first. Many aids and housing lists look at the whole household, so the income of people you live with can count. Registering in the padrón at your host's address can open services, but it may need the owner's consent and may change how your household income is counted. Ask the social worker before you register.

The checklist and questions below cover the rest.

Documents you need

• Proof of empadronamiento, a certificate that you are registered at an address in the town. Your town hall issues it, and most aids depend on it.

• Your ID, such as a passport or foreign ID card.

• Details of your income, to show what you earn or receive.

• Evidence of the need, such as an eviction notice, your lease or unpaid bills.

Checklist

• Secure a safe place for the first nights with family or friends, or in a cheap hostel or pension.

• Book a valoración at the social services centre for your address, while you still have housing if you can.

• Ask to register in the padrón as soon as possible, because most aids depend on it.

• Contact a charity such as Cáritas or Cruz Roja for food, advice and possible bed places, while you wait for social services.

• Apply for ayuda de emergencia social to help pay for lodging, with your documents ready.

• Register on the social housing list.

Frequently asked questions

Does staying with friends or family stop me getting shelter or aid?

No, staying with friends or family does not by itself disqualify you from help. Social services may still treat that support as an alternative to a shelter, and shelters often put people sleeping rough first. Some aids also count the income of the people you live with.

Can I register at a friend's address to get help?

Yes, you can register in the padrón (the town census) at your host's address, but it may need the owner's consent. It can open access to services, and it may change how your household income is counted. Ask the social services centre before you register.

How long does it take to get a social services appointment?

Waits for a social services appointment run from a few days to several weeks, depending on your town. Book by cita previa (appointment booking), by phone, on the council's website or in person at the centre. Urgent cases may be seen faster, so say clearly that you are about to lose your housing.

What can come out of a social services valoración?

A valoración can lead to a referral to a shelter or emergency housing, emergency financial aid, a place on the social housing list, or support from charities. The social worker reviews your housing, income, family, health and documents. They then write an informe social (a social report) that backs your requests.