The Placa de la Gardunya in the Raval has been the subject of multiple architectural interventions in the last decade. Despite investments aimed at turning it into the new gateway to the touristy Raval, the square remains an incomplete space and is perceived as inhospitable, particularly due to the presence of homeless individuals. This study investigates the reasons behind this resistance to rehabilitation, exploring how urban policies and renewal strategies have shaped the place. Through active field observation and analysis of interviews, we seek to understand why homeless people use and are tolerated in this space. Our findings suggest that tolerance towards homeless individuals in the Placa de la Gardunya is closely linked to political and economic interests. Their presence, along with the stigma it carries, plays a crucial role in the dynamics of urban renewal, framed within the notion of gray spaces and hygienist policies aimed at "civilizing" public space to attract tourism and investments.