Manuel Heredia, 59, works full-time in Sant Andreu de la Barca but has spent over a year sleeping rough in Cornellà de Llobregat. Despite a permanent contract and steady income, soaring rental costs keep him homeless—a reality facing thousands in Catalonia.
Every morning at 5:00, Manuel Heredia wakes up, washes, and boards a train to Sant Andreu de la Barca, where he starts his shift as a warehouse worker at 6:20. After eight hours on the job, he showers at work and returns to Cornellà de Llobregat. There, he prepares for another night on the street, laying cardboard near a library for some protection from the cold ground and the risk of theft or violence.
Heredia, 59, earns €1,200 a month and holds a permanent contract. Yet, even with stable employment, he cannot afford to rent a room or apartment. For more than a year, he has been homeless, unable to save enough for the upfront costs required by landlords—deposits, agency fees, and the first month's rent. His sister helps by safeguarding his savings, while his work clothes remain locked in a company locker.
From Job Loss to Homelessness
Heredia's situation changed dramatically after he lost his previous job and was asked to leave the apartment he shared with his partner. The unemployment benefit he received was not enough to cover even a modest room. His fortunes shifted when a volunteer from Cruz Roja, Emilio, connected him with a job opportunity. On January 12, he started working at the warehouse and soon secured a permanent contract. However, a steady paycheck has not translated into a roof over his head.
At night, Cruz Roja volunteers check on him twice a week, offering support and monitoring his wellbeing. Heredia says he prefers to sleep outside and have enough to eat, rather than spend all his income on a room and go hungry. "I'd rather live on the street and be able to eat than pay for a room and have nothing left for food," he explains, highlighting the impossible choices faced by many low-income workers.
Work No Longer Guarantees Housing
Heredia's story is not unique. According to the latest report from Fundación FOESSA, 1.4 million people in Catalonia—38% of the working population—are affected by job insecurity. More than half of those living in social exclusion belong to households where the main breadwinner is employed. Housing costs have become a major driver of inequality: around 568,000 Catalan families, nearly two million people, experience some form of residential instability. The study also notes that 13.3% of the population falls into severe poverty after paying for housing-related expenses.
This growing disconnect between employment and housing security is echoed in other parts of Spain. For example, a recent court ruling in La Rioja ordered a retired farmer to repay nearly €47,000 after authorities found he continued working while receiving a pension—a case that underscores the financial pressures facing many, as detailed in this report on pension and work conflicts.
Saving for a Future Home
Heredia is determined to change his circumstances. He saves nearly all his earnings, including overtime, hoping to accumulate enough for the deposits and fees required to secure a rental contract. Until then, he focuses on maintaining his hygiene, punctuality, and job performance—essentials for keeping the stability he has managed to regain. He remains hopeful that, by the end of the year, he will finally be able to unlock the door to a place of his own.
