LOCAL POLICIES ADDRESSING THE MIGRATION-HOMELESSNESS INTERSECTION: A COMPARISON BETWEEN GRANADA AND PALERMO - Políticas locales frente a la intersección migración-sinhogarismo: comparación entre Granada y Palermo

Resumen

The intersection of human mobility and homelessness represents a complex challenge for local governments and third-sector organizations. Structural factors such as economic crises, armed conflicts, climate change, and increasingly restrictive migration policies have intensified migratory flows to Europe. In cities like Granada (Andalusia, Spain) and Palermo (Sicily, Italy), this scenario has led to a growing number of migrants experiencing homelessness and facing significant barriers to accessing basic resources. This situation places mounting pressure on already weakened local social protection systems and highlights the need for innovative policies that safeguard fundamental rights. This article aims to compare the policies and social intervention practices targeting migrants experiencing homelessness in Granada and Palermo. Its purpose is to identify similarities and differences in local governance of this phenomenon and to propose recommendations for advancing towards more integrated and sustainable responses. A participatory SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) was conducted, involving 21 professionals from diverse disciplines across the public and private sectors in both cities. This approach enabled the collection of perspectives on institutional coordination, criteria for accessing resources, the role of NGOs, funding, and the main obstacles and opportunities for social intervention in this field. Findings in both contexts reveal overburdened reception facilities and fragmented services, along with structural and policy-related limitations that hinder comprehensive care. Nonetheless, an emerging paradigm shift towards rights-based approaches in addressing homelessness is evident, with social work playing a key role in leading interdisciplinary teams and fostering innovation to overcome bureaucratic inertia. In Granada and Palermo, similarities and differences can be observed in local policies shaped by an international context that influences migratory flows. The scope of interventions depends largely on political will, available resources, and the simplification of administrative procedures. Social work must promote strategies that integrate the perspective of human mobility, uphold the right to housing without requiring prior participation in programs or services, and strengthen collaborative networks to deliver dignified and appropriate responses to identified needs.