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Social policies are a priority for the Government. For this reason, the Generalitat is preparing the most important investment ever made in Catalonia aimed at improving people's lives. From now until 2026, the Department of Social Rights will allocate 400 million euros from the European Next Generation funds to aid projects for the most vulnerable groups, to strengthen, transform and promote all social services. Much of the aid, which will be resolved at the beginning of May, is also used to carry out the Government's own projects and also to promote initiatives by social organizations through subsidies.
It is about contributing to improving social protection in the country and moving towards a model that guarantees the basic needs of citizens. A model focused on the right to live independently, which promotes one's own abilities, and which above all ensures equal opportunities.
The Next Generation funds allocated to Social Rights will go to a wide range of citizens, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, or those suffering from a mental health problem, as well as children and young people. The aim is to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable groups and ensure that no one is left behind in Catalonia.
In total, more than 300 social initiatives from all over Catalonia will receive Next Generation EU funds to develop their projects to help the most vulnerable groups. In Barcelona, for example, a new assisted living facility for the elderly is planned on Carrer Benavent de les Corts, where environments similar to those of a private residence will be created; and the expansion of the Can Serra residence for people with intellectual disabilities, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, to adapt it to the care model centered on the person, with coexistence units that will promote personal autonomy.
In Girona, photovoltaic energy systems will be installed at the Creu de Palau and Puig d'en Roca geriatric homes, both in the city of Girona, and the Els Arcs home for the elderly, in Figueres, will be renovated.
In the population of Tarragona, the transformation of the Old Town of Tarragona into a youth hostel is already underway to promote the emotional well-being of children, adolescents and young people; while Tortosa will host one of the 13 integrated care units for children and adolescents victims of sexual violence, known as "Barnahus", which will be located throughout Catalonia. Also in the demarcation of Lleida, in the capital of Segrià and in Seu d'Urgell, two more Barnahus units will be launched. In Lleida, the Empresseguera residence for people with mental disabilities and behavioral disorders will also be reformed.
The Department of Social Rights will also start transversal projects for the whole territory, such as initiatives for the digital transformation of the ministry and review of models of care for citizens; update programs such as Connecta’t al volunteering, the Carnet Jove or the Xarxa Òmnia, as well as others to reduce the digital gap or social exclusion and strengthen community relations.
The 400 million euros from the Next Generation EU funds are added to the Government's budget for Social Rights, which this year exceeds 3.5 billion euros. Of these, more than 2,000 million will be used to address the challenge of independent living.
The first cases of coronavirus were reported at the end of 2019, and on March 11, 2020, Covid-19 was declared by the WHO as a global pandemic. Beyond the strong impact on health, the consequences of the health crisis extended to all areas, especially the social and economic. To alleviate its effects, the European Union approved the Next Generation EU program in July 2020, endowed with 750,000 million euros to build the Europe of the future, more innovative, more ecological and more democratic.
