On October 29, 2024, assuming that the city hall of Valencia’s count of people living in the streets in 2023 hasn’t been reduced, at least 471 homeless people were unexpectedly hit with a Cold Drop that has completely silenced them while increasing the number of new homeless people (1,152 homeless people according to Europa Press) being provided housing by Red Cross (Cruz Roja). One homeless community has been destroyed and silenced, and another one has been created and given visibility.
If you or anyone you know is currently affected by homelessness due to the Cold Drop (DANA) in Valencia, please contact our HELPLINE (+34 697 877 089)!
Why isn’t the press speaking about how the most vulnerable group has been affected?
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The growing number of deaths, which is currently at 214 (according to El País on November 3, 2024), could reach the total amount of 1,900 missing people who have been officially reported. Not one homeless person has been identified as dead or as a missing person.
This lack of visibility for the homeless community is not new. Approximately a month ago, El Periodico wrote a story about a woman who died at Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. We learned that she was homeless because a Homeless Entrepreneur, Fabio Betancourt, was friends with her. The fact she was homeless and that it took 4 hours for anyone to recognize she was dead went unmentioned.
Fabio also proactively reached out to homeless organizations in Valencia to see how the homeless community in Barcelona can provide direct support through Homeless Entrepreneur’s community.
“Approximately, 325,000 people are at ground zero of this tragedy and 75,000 homes have been destroyed.”
How will government, corporations and citizens respond to this increase in homelessness?
If you use social media as a news source, you’ll get a quick feel of public opinion: government and corporate response is being deemed too late and too slow in viral content, and NGOs and citizens are mobilizing as quick as they can. Public figures are being attacked and the everyday citizen is stepping into the limelight.
“Imagine if society did the same with the same intensity for the 28,552 people offically declared homeless by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda…”
Just like homelessness before this natural disaster, the pain and suffering is deep for those directly affected and hard to truly comprehend for those who are indirectly affected as they read about it on their smartphone in their downtime.
So Many New Questions for the Same Old Problem of Homelessness…
Will the “old” homeless community connect with the “new” homeless community and join forces to uplift each other?
Will homelessness get worse as poverty becomes the norm for a growing number of citizens affected by an unexpected crisis they are unable to respond to due to lack of resources and/or public/private/civic support?
What will we learn from this tragedy and will we be better prepared next time?
What are you going to do to help people experiencing homelessness in Valencia due to the Cold Drop? (Some options below)
Donating allows Homeless Entrepreneur to leverage its community, programs and resources to support people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop.
Volunteering allows you to providing greater impact through a coordinated approach to supporting people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop.
Sending us original pictures and videos related to people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop will allow us to generate more awareness and attract new unidentified resources to end homelessness for people experiencing it in Valencia, Spain.
According to Wikipedia, the Spanish government devised and enacted the Plan Sur, which rerouted the city's main river, the Turia, after the last similar tragedy, which took place in October, 1957, when flooding in Valencia killed 81 people while significantly damaging property.
How will the Spanish government, corporations and civil society respond this time?
Lastly, Homeless Entrepreneur would like to publicly express it condolenses to everyone who has been directly and indirectly affected by the Cold Drop in Valencia, Spain.
As the community of Valencia rebuilds again after this terrible tragedy, we only hope that society comes together to become stronger as it uplifts all of its citizens out of homelessness.