overcrowding was discussed at the latest gathering of Federacion hospitaleros, and that hospitalera was probably there. The issue came up after a hospitalero in Astorga was cited by Junta officials for violating the occupancy limits established for the building. The fine was something like 200€ , and the volunteer hospitalero was stuck in a bad situation -- put pilgs on the street, or chance being personally fined by letting them sleep inside? Regulations are even more strict in Galicia these days, as bureaucrats have pretty much taken over there.
Minimal Insurance cover exists for volunteer Federation hospitaleros, but only if all the rules are scrupulously followed. If someone falls out of his bunk in an overcrowded albergue, who is responsible? I´m not even going to think about fire breaking out in some of those places...
Rebekah