15 new public residences and 1,000 new places for the elderly

Three out of every four euros of the record spending planned in the 2026 Budgets are allocated to social policies, and the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion is one of the main beneficiaries of the departmental distribution planned in the accounts. The overall budget of the departments grows to 40,399 million euros, 24.9% more than in 2023 and, in this context, the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion will have 4,248 million euros, equivalent to 10.5% of the total budget. The increase in resources for the department will be 28% compared to the last approved accounts.

The increase in the new allocation will allow for initiatives such as the construction of 15 new public residences and the creation of 1,000 new places for the elderly, while also ensuring improvements in the quality of care. In total, the Department has 930 million euros more than in 2023.

More coverage

Of this increase, 20.3 million euros will be allocated to strengthening the Home Care Service (SAD), almost 14% more than in the last accounts. This will allow for the expansion of the service's coverage and reinforcement of care with closer, continuous, and effective support.

The 1,000 new residential places planned are added to the 2,740 already created since 2024, with the aim of reaching 6,000 new places by 2028. The department will also work to reduce waiting lists and disability with an allocation increase of 25 million euros.

Another notable action is the improvement of salaries and working conditions for nearly 100,000 social sector professionals. With this objective, the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion will allocate 150 million euros to promote a set of measures aimed at valuing their work and contributing to the sector's dignity.

More support for children

Combating child poverty is another of the Government's priorities, which will allocate 880 million euros to promote support programs for children and families in education, nutrition, health, housing, and access to aid. In this context, six Barnahus will move from provisional spaces to definitive facilities to strengthen care for children and adolescents victims of sexual violence.

In Tortosa and La Seu d'Urgell, for example, two of these new Barnahus will be built, to which 585,000 euros and 590,000 euros will be allocated this 2026, respectively.

More initiatives for the territory

Other initiatives in Tarragona include the renovation works to be carried out at the Segle XX Elderly Residence in Reus, for which 10.9 million euros are allocated; the rehabilitation of the old Ciutat de Repòs i Vacances complex in Tarragona to convert it into a public hostel as part of the Xarxa Jove d’Albergs de Catalunya (Xanascat), with 2.1 million euros; and the 118,000 euros that will be allocated for the equipping of the residence and service center for the elderly in Móra la Nova, with fire protection works.

In Lleida, in addition to the new Barnahus, 3.4 million euros are planned to renovate and expand the Empresseguera Residence, thus improving the living conditions of people with intellectual disabilities who live there; 256,000 euros will be used to renovate the air conditioning system of the Serafí Casanovas Elderly Residence in Sort and 119,000 euros to rehabilitate the roofs of the Sant Pere Claver Residence in Verdú. The centers of the Consorci Sant Gregori, in Girona, will receive 184,000 euros for equipment and furniture, and in the Barcelona counties.

In Barcelona, 13.4 million euros will be allocated to the new construction of a residence for the elderly in the Parc Central sector of Sabadell, and in Terrassa, the new construction of another residence and day center, also for the elderly, is planned with a budget of 13 million euros.

The Can Ruti centers in Badalona and Can Serra in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat will receive 9.4 million euros and 4.5 million euros, respectively, to renovate and expand their spaces, in order to adapt them to the new care model for people.