La Christmas Campaign of Caritas Diocesana de Astorga This year, he is focusing on the homeless people and those living in extreme housing insecurityA group that continues to grow in Spain and within the diocese itself. Their motto, repeated at all events, is that of having a dignified life. It shouldn't be a matter of luckThe organization is calling for solidarity, but also urging people to open their eyes to a reality that often goes unnoticed.
The initiative was presented in Astorga and Ponferrada in separate press conferences in which the delegate of the diocesan administrator participated, José Manuel Carrasco, the director of Caritas Diocesana de Astorga, Immaculate Conception of the Weightthe diocesan administrator José Ángel Ventura, the general secretary of Caritas Astorga, Luis Alberto Garcia, and the president of Cáritas of the UPA Ponferrada, Amador PinosEveryone agreed that the Christmas campaign, with more than six decades of history in the diocese, continues to be a benchmark of solidarity, but also a barometer of the increase in social exclusion.
A context of rising homelessness in Spain
During the presentation, Carrasco provided data that paints a worrying picture at the national level: In 2024, Caritas assisted approximately 42.800 people who were homeless or in situations of great residential vulnerability., which represents approximately a 1,2% more than in 2023Another fact that worries the organization is that Two out of every ten people served are women, a proportion that barely appeared in reports a few years ago.
Beyond those who sleep on the streets, the organization includes in this group many people who, even though they have a roof over their heads, live in very precarious conditions: Inadequate housing, substandard housing, unaffordable rents, or risk of cutoffs to basic utilities such as calefacciónIn Spain, as Carrasco recalled, around three million people (6,3% of the population) They are forced to resort to precarious forms of housing tenure, from sublet rooms to accommodations without minimum conditions.
The ultimate goal, the delegate reiterated, is that everyone can enjoy a decent standard of livingAccess to adequate housing, sufficient food, healthcare, social services, and a safety net against life's hardships. However, the reality described by Caritas programs is full of Obstacles: lack of privacy, physical and mental health problems, administrative barriers, and difficulties finding decent employment.
Among these obstacles, the organization also points to the barriers to such basic issues as censusRegistration is an essential requirement for managing aid, accessing certain services, or regularizing employment and health status. Without registration, many people remain literally outside the system.
Diverse profiles behind the label of “homeless people”
Far from a homogeneous image, Caritas has identified nine different profiles of people experiencing homelessness or residential vulnerabilityIt's not just about those who sleep on the streets or in shelters, but a much more complex reality that ranges from poor workers to victims of violence or invisible migrants.
Among these profiles are, firstly, the people who, even though they have a job, cannot access housing due to rising rents or unstable employment contracts. Alongside them appear migrants in an irregular situation or with limited resourceswho often survive in sublet rooms, overcrowded accommodations or very precarious boarding houses, with hardly any legal protection.
Also included in this map are women victims of gender violence without a safe housing solution; with disabilities who cannot find a job that allows them to support themselves; and those who drag on mental health problems or addictions which hinders their social and professional integration. Cáritas emphasizes that, in many cases, emotional fragility and lack of support combine with a lack of economic resources, creating a vicious cycle that is very difficult to break without specialized assistance.
Another particularly sensitive group is that of the young people formerly in foster care who, upon reaching adulthood, are left without the protection of child welfare services. Along with them, elderly people without a family network Those with insufficient pensions find their income no longer covers housing or rental costs. This list also includes LGBTI people who have been rejected by their family environment, and single mothers struggling to support their children and who are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
In the diocese of Astorga, the director of Caritas, Inmaculada del Peso, pointed out that the The profile of those seeking help is very varied. and it varies depending on the region. In some areas, what you see most are single-parent families headed by women...with problems paying rent, electricity or gas. In others, the reality is marked by... migrants who are stuck in a cycle of precarious jobs or are directly unemployed and they lack papers. Added to all this is the increase in Loneliness among older people, especially in rural areaswhere many live isolated and with difficulty accessing resources.
Caritas emphasizes that, in addition to guaranteeing basic rights, Homeless people need strong human connections.The organization speaks of “healing relationships” to emphasize the importance of feeling heard, supported, and valued. From this perspective, the Christmas campaign is not limited to fundraising but aims to strengthen spaces that offer welcome, listening, and emotional support.
Specific areas of work in the diocese: women, migrants and the elderly
Within the diocese of Astorga, Caritas' response is structured around several specialized programs, tailored to the concrete realities of each territory. One of the most notable is the DAWN programThis initiative focuses on supporting women in particularly vulnerable situations, from victims of trafficking to victims of gender-based violence. pioneer in Castile and León that combines social, legal and emotional support.
In the different parish social action units, the so-called UPAS extensionThe situation varies. There are areas where the focus is on the Migrant people who approach Caritas due to problems with unemployment, papers and housingand others where the main concern is the population aging and loneliness among the elderlyMany of them, Del Peso explained, would like to access a residence, but They cannot find a subsidized place or cannot afford the cost full.
The entity emphasizes that It does not only serve passersbyMore and more people are arriving who already own a house, but They can't afford to pay for utilities, rent, or basic expensesFor many of these families, any unforeseen event—a job loss, an illness, a rent increase—can be the trigger that suddenly pushes them into exclusion.
In this scenario, the campaign wants to send a clear message: “We can be anyone at any time”With this idea, Cáritas seeks to raise awareness among citizens that homelessness and precarious housing are not distant realities, but situations that can affect neighbors, acquaintances, or even oneself if circumstances take a turn for the worse.
The organization insists that the aid is not limited to financial support. Detecting nearby cases, listening, and being willing to support. In the eyes of Caritas, these signs are just as important as donations. That's why they encourage people to "keep their eyes open" and not look the other way when they see signs of need around them.
Caritas' resources in Astorga and Ponferrada: data that puts numbers to the problem
At the diocesan level, the main organizations providing care to homeless people are the Little house of Saint Joseph in Astorga and the San Genadio Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen in PonferradaBoth centers reflect, with their activity figures, the extent to which demand has grown in recent years.
La Little House of Saint Joseph, a short-stay shelter, served 171 people in 2022, 250 in 2023 and 231 in 2024By October of the last year for which figures are available, they had already visited their facilities. 143 people. Around the 90% of the people welcomed are of Spanish nationalityThis proportion has increased compared to the previous year, when it was around 70%. The remaining users come mainly from Portugal and Romania.
Regarding the gender and age profile, the little house mostly receives men between the ages of 45 and 65: of the 143 people housed up to October, 135 were men and 8 were womenIn addition to providing temporary shelter, the resource offers social support: so far this year, the following have been carried out more than 500 individualized interventions, focused on resource search, administrative support and employment and social guidance.
In Ponferrada, the Home for the Homeless and the San Genadio Soup Kitchen They highlight the magnitude of the daily demand. According to data provided by Cáritas, in In 2024, 6.851 bed and breakfast services were provided., which involves attention to some 18 people a day. Added to this are 32.753 lunches and 30.551 dinners, with daily averages of around 90 lunches and 85 dinners served.
The center also maintains a shower service for people living on the streets or in accommodations without adequate hygiene. These types of resources, often discreet, allow users to partially recover their dignity. dignity and self-care, something basic for their health and also for their job search.
Caritas officials in El Bierzo emphasize that these figures not only reflect the volume of work at the centers, but also They are a symptom that there are many people who need ongoing help.Far from decreasing, the demand for accommodation and meals remains stable or slightly increasing, especially among those who live alone or in households with a single unstable income.
A campaign with more than 60 years of history
The current Christmas Campaign has its roots in a long diocesan tradition. It began more than six decades ago, initially geared towards the children of La Cabreraand in 1964 it acquired diocesan status. Since then, it has become one of the most recognizable initiatives of the Church of Astorga during the Christmas season.
Each year, the campaign focuses on a different reality of poverty or exclusion, depending on the needs identified on the groundThis time, the choice of homeless people is a response to the sustained increase in the residential insecurity and the spread of housing problems to segments of the population that were previously considered relatively protected, such as workers with permanent employment or pensioners.
The initiative is being rolled out in all the parishes of the diocese through collections and special actions, supported by the dissemination of diocesan newspaper, priests and numerous volunteersThis collaborative network allows the message and the call for solidarity to reach both urban centers and small towns, where poverty is often more invisibly experienced.
A classic element of the campaign is the collaboration with the COPE Astorga (95.5 FM) and COPE Bierzo (91.7 FM) radio stations, who organize a charity radio marathonThis year, the event will be held on the following days: December 15 and 16, from 19 to 21 pmwith the aim of surpassing the slightly more than 27.000 euros raised the previous yearFrom the radio studios, donations are collected, testimonials are shared, and it is explained how the financial aid translates into action.
Caritas officials insist that this campaign is not just a one-off fundraising effort. They consider it a “banner of solidarity” of the diocesan churchwhich year after year reminds us that the needs persist and that we cannot look the other way. The message is directed both to those who already collaborate and to those who are approaching this reality for the first time.
Ways to collaborate: from parish collections to Bizum
For those who wish to join, Caritas has enabled various avenues of economic collaborationOne of the most traditional are the special collections in the parishes during the Christmas celebrations, in which the funds raised are entirely allocated to the programs for the homeless and the diocese's shelters.
Furthermore, if you can accomplish donations through bank accounts from Caritas Astorga, as well as through contributions on the official website of the entity. In recent years, the use of Bizum As a quick tool for micro-donations: the Diocese of Astorga has enabled the code 02815 to channel these contributions. The campaign will remain open. until after Three Kings Day or mid-Januaryso that contributions can continue to arrive beyond the peak Christmas dates.
Along with financial support, the organization is using this period to encourage citizens to get involved as a volunteer in the various projects, from soup kitchens to programs supporting the elderly or job placement programs. Diocesan officials emphasize that, without this network of volunteers, It would be impossible to provide care to so many families and passersby..
At the same time, collaboration with the COPE radio campaignby calling in during the program's broadcast or sharing its content on social media and among acquaintances. The idea is that the message that "a dignified life cannot depend on chance" will resonate beyond the strictly ecclesiastical sphere and reach the entire Bierzo and Maragatería region.
Finally, Caritas emphasizes a less visible but equally necessary type of collaboration: be attentive to nearby situations of need and to inform the organization of cases that may require support. In the words of Inmaculada del Peso, many people who come to the organization's services "not only need material help, but also someone to listen to them, accompany them, and remind them that they are not alone."
The Cáritas Astorga Christmas Campaign unfolds as a broad effort that combines fundraising, social awareness and direct support to those who are homeless or living in undignified conditions. With data showing the increase in homelessness and precarious living conditions, the diocese is redoubling its call for solidarity, daily commitment, and shared responsibility so that, step by step, Having a roof over your head and a decent life no longer depends on luck.
