Shelter flats for women and their childrenwho are victims of gender violence and use drugs (Barcelona)

These shelter flats are an urban, long-stay temporary accommodation service for women who are victims of violence and who also have drug problems. They provide a space for comprehensive intervention in which these problems, as well as mental health problems, are addressed in a safe environment. It is a confidential service operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a multidisciplinary team. The service welcomes anyone who needs it, whether they are “cis” women, trans people or non-binary people.

The flats are located in a Barcelona neighbourhood, at a strictly confidential address. The service is divided into two flats and can accommodate a maximum of 12 people.

Our objectives are as follows:

• To raise awareness and motivation for change in the overall situation of the women served, addressing both problems at the same time.
• To provide the necessary tools and accompany the women served in their comprehensive recovery process (bio-psychosocial and educational) from a professional perspective specialised in this dual problem.
• To provide care to children and adolescents, recognising them as individuals who also need specific care for their recovery and the prevention of future problems.
• To facilitate connections between the women’s care, drugs, mental health and other networks.
• To meet the needs of a population group that, because of the current restrictive admission criteria of both networks (violence and drug addiction), is left without access to resources, with the serious risk that this entails.