Barcelona opens second SARA centre in Eixample with nearly two million euro investment

New facility in Eixample

Barcelona City Council has opened a second Care, Recovery and Reception Service (SARA) facility to assist victims of gender-based violence. The municipal administration presented the new centre at 200 Carrer de Muntaner in the Eixample district on 30 September 2026, following a one-year renovation project costing nearly 2 million euros. Situated in a former National Police station, the facility spans approximately 1,000 square metres and has been operational since 7 September 2026. The expansion added 16 new positions, including social workers, psychologists, educators, legal experts, and administrative personnel, raising total staff across the service to 43 professionals. The building contains consultation, diagnosis, and treatment rooms, alongside multipurpose spaces tailored for children, adolescents, and adults.

District division and emergency care

The opening decentralizes Barcelona's municipal assistance model across city districts. The Muntaner facility provides coverage to seven districts: Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, and Sant Martí. The original centre at 16 Carrer Marie Curie in Nou Barris, established 12 years prior, now covers three districts: Nou Barris, Horta-Guinardó, and Sant Andreu. The Nou Barris facility also maintains the central emergency response unit, operating from 09:00 to 13:00. Deputy Mayor for Social Rights and Feminisms Raquel Gil presented the facility and detailed the city's operational focus.

The recovery of women, children, and adolescents is at the center of our action.

Gil stated that assigning dedicated professional teams provides continuous support throughout each individual recovery process.

With this new model we reinforce specialized care and guarantee that each woman has a reference professional team that accompanies her from the first moment and throughout her entire recovery process.

Caseload and demographic trends

Caseload records show steady demand for specialized municipal intervention. During 2025, SARA attended to 1,280 people affected by gender-based violence, comprising 903 women, 342 children and adolescents, and 35 individuals connected to the victims through personal ties. Minors receiving support included dependent offspring and youths up to 17 years old assisted through the SARA Jove programme. During the first six months of 2026, the service attended to 912 victims, an intake consisting of 677 women and 235 minors.

Emergency housing and capacity

Between 1 January and the end of June 2026, municipal emergency mechanisms sheltered 351 women and children requiring immediate relocation due to gender-based violence, representing 75 female-headed family units. Throughout 2025, emergency lodging housed 468 individuals, broken down into 256 family units comprising 256 women and 207 dependent minors. Dedicated shelter capacity in municipal centers, reception homes, and flats expanded from 183 places in 2021 to 284 fixed places in 2025. The city council reported that existing places remain sufficient for current assistance needs without all spots being occupied. Caseworkers allocate spots either through direct assignment to municipal housing or through short stays in boarding houses while evaluating long-term safety requirements.