Mossos d'Esquadra officers began evicting three families from 58 publicly owned flats in Sant Adrià de Besòs's La Mina neighbourhood this morning. These properties have been occupied for almost nine years. The large-scale eviction operation is expected to continue until December.
Five police vans, carrying riot officers, arrived at approximately 08:00 at the block located at Rambla de La Mina, numbers 58-60. They faced about 50 demonstrators opposing the evictions. Protesters included occupants of the flats and members of the Besòs and Verneda Housing Syndicate.
Demonstrators shouted slogans against the first eviction of the programme. The expulsions caused moments of tension. Evicted residents criticised the police intervention, noting the presence of children.
Police Encounter Protests
One resident, awaiting eviction, shouted, "They shoot every day and there are many guns in the neighbourhood, but you do not come for that! You also do not go after those who sell drugs." Two of the three families evicted this morning claim they recently obtained vulnerability reports. These reports confirm they lack sufficient resources to afford housing.
Both families submitted appeals to postpone their expulsion, but the court denied them. They stated authorities offered them three nights in a shelter. Marta López, a member of the Besòs and Maresme Housing Syndicate, commented on the situation.
López stated, "I think it is perfect that they want to advance the rehousing of Venus, but it cannot be at the cost of evicting vulnerable families and creating social conflict in La Mina."
Background to the Occupations
Residents occupied all 58 flats simultaneously on a single day in 2017. The properties had remained empty for at least seven years. Surveillance on the flats stopped one month before the occupations.
This cessation of surveillance followed a judicial investigation. The investigation uncovered a scheme of irregular payments to a local family to control the properties. This led to the conviction of a former deputy mayor of Sant Adrià.
Authorities built these homes to rehouse residents from the Venus block, a building awaiting demolition since 2002. The La Mina Consortium, which includes the Generalitat, the Barcelona and Sant Adrià councils, and the Provincial Council, reported the occupations. The Consortium aims to use the recovered flats to relocate affected Venus residents.
Official Response and Future Plans
Occupants argue they face vulnerable situations. They also state the flats were not assigned for Venus rehousing when they moved in. The Department of Social Rights and the Sant Adrià Council confirm that emergency housing boards will attend to cases with accredited vulnerability.
The council assures that some occupying families receive attention from social services. However, it did not specify an exact number. The Department of Social Rights and the council also claim they have examined situations where some occupants did not demonstrate a situation of destitution.
This large-scale eviction operation will continue until December. Authorities will continue to assess individual vulnerability cases throughout this period.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
