Spain

European court says Spanish eviction laws illegal

Published in Thursday March 14th, 2013 In In the media

The European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that harsh property repossession laws in Spain that have led to hundreds of thousands of evictions during the country’s deep recession violate EU laws on consumer protection, and activists said the decision could lead judges to halt thousands of bank foreclosure proceedings.

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Stopping Evictions in Spain

Published in Monday January 21st, 2013 In Social movement news

As Spain’s unemployment rate climbs above 25 percent and its social welfare system is meticulously dismantled, around 500 eviction orders are issued each day. Banks are repossessing the homes of those who can’t meet their mortgage payments. This trend is sadly not new. There were more than 325,000 foreclosures between 2007 and 2011, according to Spain’s justice department. A fellow Polis blogger explored who is to blame for evictions in Spain early last year. In this post, I look at how advocacy and grassroots groups, including Platform of People Affected by Mortgages (PAH) and the housing groups from 15M assemblies, are working to stop and transform this process.

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Pain in Spain grows as evictions spark new wave of protests

Published in Friday December 7th, 2012 In In the media

The fact that several of the banks repossessing homes are receiving state funds has fuelled Spaniards’ anger. On December 2nd, Tarragona city hall in northeastern Spain revealed it was planning to cut off ties with any bank that evicted local people who could not pay their mortgage. In doing so, it was following a handful of other towns and cities across Spain which have responded in a dramatic way to a deepening evictions crisis.

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Almodóvar: The Disaster of Evictions

Published in Friday December 7th, 2012 In Opinion

In the past two weeks, two Spaniards who were facing eviction from their houses committed suicide. More than 350,000 people in Spain have lost their homes since the onset of the economic crisis in 2008. These tragic deaths have attracted public attention and a group called “Stop Evictions” has organized protests to block families from being evicted.

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Spain parties tackle eviction reform after suicides

Published in Wednesday November 14th, 2012 In In the media

November 12, 2012 Tens of thousands evicted after property crash. Public accuses banks of lacking compassion. Rajoy calls for faster cross-party reform talks By Nigel Davies MADRID, Nov 12 (Reuters) – Spain’s top parties will tackle eviction law reform on Monday after a homeowner’s suicide provoked public fury and accusations that politicians and banks are complicit in de facto […]

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Wave of Evictions Leads to Homeless Crisis in Spain

Published in Tuesday November 13th, 2012 In In the media

The number of Spanish families facing eviction continues to mount at a dizzying pace — hundreds a day, housing advocates say. The problem has become so acute that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has promised to announce emergency measures on Monday, though what they may be remains unclear.

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Evicted families sleep in front of Bankia in Madrid

Published in Monday November 5th, 2012 In In the media

November 3rd, 2012 It’s been two weeks since over 50 families decided to protest day and night in front of the banks main offices, with rain, cold weather and a lot of patience. Their only hope is that Bankia negotiates with them a pay in kind and a social rent in order to continue living […]

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Homeless Families in Spain Squatting After Eviction

Published in Monday October 15th, 2012 In In the media

October 11, 2012 Protest groups in Spain have helped families that were kicked out of their homes by banks find shelter in repossessed, empty apartment buildings. Police moved in quickly in most cases, but in Seville about 30 families are going on six months of illegal occupation. Fifty-four-year old Mercedes Lladanosa showed us around the […]

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In Spain, Madrid’s ‘slum of shame’ faces uncertain future

Published in Wednesday August 29th, 2012 In In the media

August 28, 2012 Europe’s largest illegal settlement lies just outside the Spanish capital, Madrid. A sprawling tangle of tents and cement houses, Cañada Real is now home to over 40,000 people. But maybe not for long… In Cañada Real, roads and alleyways are unpaved. Houses are made of corrugated metal or cement. Some lots are […]

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Fire in Spain’s Canary Islands forces La Gomera exodus

Published in Monday August 13th, 2012 In In the media

August 13, 2012 Firefighters are battling a forest fire on La Gomera in Spain’s Canary Islands which forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people by ferry overnight. The worst affected area on La Gomera is Valle Gran Rey. Road access has been cut by the fire, which has spread with high winds and tinder-dry vegetation. […]

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