Spanish Families Evicted as Housing Crisis Deepens in Seville
SEVILLE, Spain – Eleven families, including nine children, were evicted from their homes in Seville’s Palmete neighborhood in December, highlighting a growing housing crisis fueled by bank acquisitions and real estate speculation. The evictions, from a building formerly designated as affordable housing, followed a brief suspension of proceedings in November after public pressure on the financial institution involved.
The building, located at Calle Verdad 54, was purchased by a bank, triggering a wave of anxiety among residents who feared displacement. While the bank initially agreed to halt the evictions, that reprieve proved temporary.
“It’s a constant uncertainty that destroys our mental health; we are a neighborhood of working people and we are treated like garbage,” said Lorena, a spokesperson for the affected families, according to reporting by ElDiario.es.
The evictions have sparked widespread protests, with approximately 2,500 people participating in a march on Saturday organized by the platform Barrios Hartos (Neighborhoods Fed Up). Demonstrators converged on the regional Ministry of Development and Housing, securing a commitment for a meeting with officials on February 16th.
The crisis underscores a broader trend in Spain, where rising housing costs and financial speculation are displacing vulnerable populations. According to data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute, housing prices have increased by over 3% in the last year, while wages have stagnated. This disparity is particularly acute in cities like Seville, where affordable housing options are dwindling.
“There is an offensive by banks, vulture funds and all kinds of rentiers who are plunging us into misery,” stated a manifesto released by Barrios Hartos, which has garnered support from over 25 organizations, unions, and political parties. “Housing is now the main cause of impoverishment of the working class.”
The situation in Palmete has drawn criticism of local authorities. During a parliamentary session this week, regional Development Councillor Rocío Díaz admitted that her delegation was unaware of the bank’s purchase of the building. Opposition lawmakers denounced this claim as “an insult to intelligence,” pointing out that tenants had been paying rent to the courts for two years following the original developer’s bankruptcy.
The Seville City Council, through its urban planning delegate Juan de la Rosa, maintains it is working to find a solution, involving Emvisesa, the municipal housing company, in negotiations with Santander bank. The goal, according to officials, is to ensure the property remains designated as affordable housing until 2043.
Socialist council members have called on Emvisesa to purchase the building outright, arguing it is the only way to guarantee its continued affordability.
The case has resonated beyond Seville, drawing attention to the broader challenges of housing affordability and financial speculation in Spain. Activists are calling for greater government intervention to protect vulnerable tenants and regulate the housing market.
The plight of the families in Palmete serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked real estate speculation and the urgent need for policies that prioritize housing as a fundamental right.