Housing: when a basic right is evicted

BarcelonaMaricarmen Abascal in Madrid; Olga, the 54-year-old woman from l'Hospitalet who committed suicide after being evicted... The list is terribly long. Although the total number of judicial evictions is lower than it was a few years ago, it remains a problem, a scourge. And what is most serious is that when a measure has been attempted to be applied, even if temporary –such as the decree to prevent the eviction of vulnerable people–, a group of parties, such as the PP, Vox and Junts, opposed it.

Now, after suffering the embarrassment that even the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur has highlighted the lack of guarantees of an "individualized proportionality" in Spanish law and the social indignation over Maricarmen's eviction, the 'juntaires' seem to be willing to negotiate some solution. An effect of social pressure.

Solutions are needed, even if they are temporary, in order to preserve the rights to decent housing and those inherent to a welfare state. This is supposed to be one of the reasons why we pay taxes. In a developed country with social guarantees, it cannot be allowed that an 87-year-old person with a 50% disability ends up on the street. Nor many other people and families with various problems. And, what is worse, it cannot be allowed that their autonomous community, which is the one that holds the majority of the powers, looks the other way. But the central government cannot sit idly by either, taking the opportunity to magnify and air the alleged shames of the opposition. And perhaps we should look towards Vienna, where most of the residential market is public, a path that was abandoned in Spain.

The data continues to be terrifying, taking into account that behind every figure there is a person or a family. In the first quarter of this year, 4,005 evictions were carried out, 45.4% less than a year ago, but still too many. Practically two-thirds were due to non-payment of rent, according to data from the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). Catalonia accounted for 23% of the evictions (921), followed by the Valencian Community (741); Andalusia (616) and Madrid (582). Of those related to rent, the first position went to the Valencian Community, with 513, followed by Catalonia (489); Madrid (454) and Andalusia (355). And in mortgage foreclosures, the order was Catalonia, with (217), Andalusia (208) and the Valencian Community (158).

Legislators should not stop until they bring it to zero or until they have permanent solutions. This is indeed a priority, call it national or whatever you like.