An 87-year-old woman named Maricarmen has been forcibly evicted from her home of over 70 years in Madrid. The eviction took place this Wednesday at a property on Alcalde Sainz de Baranda street, following multiple attempts to remove her. Maricarmen was taken from her flat on a stretcher by paramedics and later admitted to Gregorio Marañón Hospital, while nearby, hundreds gathered to protest against the eviction.
In response, the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH), activist Inma Évora, and Acción Social Canarias have organised a demonstration in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for Thursday, September 24, at 6:00 PM, outside the Subdelegation of the Government on Méndez Núñez street. The protest aims to express disapproval over Maricarmen’s eviction and advocate for housing rights and affordable rentals.
The eviction followed a prolonged legal fight over Maricarmen’s tenancy, which began after her father signed a rental agreement in 1956. After his death, the lease transferred first to her mother and then to Maricarmen, who became the official tenant in 2005. The conflict arose when the property was bought by Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión in 2018, which sought to challenge her right to continue living there.
Despite initial judicial refusals to the eviction request, a court later overturned the decision, and the Supreme Court ultimately rejected Maricarmen’s appeal, allowing the eviction to proceed. Efforts by both the local and national government to find a housing solution for her were unsuccessful. Following her eviction, the city council offered Maricarmen emergency housing, but she chose to stay temporarily with relatives instead.
