Inmigración y servicios sociales

Abstract

This article examines the possible impact of the current economic crisis on the development of the social services. Since the signing of the Spanish constitution, town councils and Autonomous Communities have given a boost to social services, which have become a dynamic and expanding sector. As such, they have had to quickly adapt to the phenomenon of immigration, a novelty in Spain and with certain characteristics (very rapid, underregulated, and concentrated in certain locations) that have made its management more difficult. The economic crisis has had very serious effects on immigrants because, among other reasons, they form a majority in some of the sectors worst-affected by the crisis, like the construction industry, because immigrants sometimes lack a family support structure in Spain and they continue to have financial obligations in their countries of origin, which are difficult to meet if they are unemployed. As a result of this, their demands on social services will grow sharply, becoming more heterogeneous and lasting longer. It remains uncertain whether the Administration will opt for improving the quality of social services, keeping it at the same level, or reducing it. The answer will depend on the length of the crisis, on the type of service, and on the positioning of the different Autonomous Communities, which tend to have different policies in this matter.