Two publicly owned flats in the La Mina neighbourhood of Sant Adrià de Besòs were reoccupied by residents last week, just days after police cleared them. This action intensifies a large-scale operation to evict occupants from 58 homes in the area, which started with three displacements last Thursday.

The reoccupations occurred on Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, following the initial evictions. Police had removed occupants from three homes in a block on Rambla de La Mina. The Consorci de La Mina, the public body owning the properties, had secured these flats with anti-occupation doors and private security guards.

However, these measures proved insufficient. Residents quickly regained access to two of the three properties. "We recovered two flats, one opened on Thursday and another on Saturday," explained an inhabitant of the building, who also faces an eviction order.

Evictions Continue Despite Reoccupations

Authorities plan to evict four more flats this Monday, including three occupied by families with underage children. Three additional evictions are scheduled for next Thursday. The Consorci de La Mina, a consortium comprising the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat), the Provincial Council of Barcelona (Diputació de Barcelona), and the city councils of Barcelona and Sant Adrià, expects evictions to continue until December.

Police, including officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Local Police of Sant Adrià, attended both reoccupation incidents. Residents reported engaging in dialogue with police commanders. Officers urged them to abandon their efforts, but the occupants refused, demanding a negotiation table with the administration.

They seek to regularise the stays of those who can demonstrate genuine need. The reoccupiers also promised police officials they would not attempt to reoccup the third flat, which remains sealed since last Thursday. They simultaneously pleaded for a halt to the scheduled evictions.

Residents Demand Solutions

An occupant stated that the families evicted last Thursday, including single mothers with minors, were offered three nights in a shelter. Residents deemed this option unsafe. "It is not a safe place," an occupant questioned. "Would you take your children to share a roof with strangers, who might be rapists?"

During the reoccupation, residents described a quick process. They told security guards that vulnerable families lived there. "We told them there are vulnerable families," a resident recounted. "If they wanted, they could open for us, and if not, we would open ourselves." The guards initially refused, but residents opened the metal sheet in about five minutes without violence. "The guards gave up and are no longer there, they all left without any discussion," the resident added.

Last week, a group of people threw stones and eggs at the Consorci de La Mina headquarters. They also left threatening graffiti. The Consorci originally reported the occupations nine years ago.

Background to the Housing Crisis

The occupied homes were built nearly two decades ago. They were intended for residents of a block on Calle Venus, which faces demolition. This demolition has seen significant delays, originally planned for 2002 and now scheduled for 2028. The Calle Venus block is situated in one of the poorer areas of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

However, the transfer operation stalled due to high payments demanded from families. These payments, often exceeding €40,000, were required to exchange their degraded homes for new ones. Consequently, the publicly funded homes remained empty for at least seven years before being occupied in 2017, a month after security surveillance ceased.

The Department of Social Rights (Departament de Drets Socials) and the Sant Adrià de Besòs council state that recovered flats will be offered to residents of the Calle Venus block. They also confirm that cases demonstrating insufficient income to afford housing will be referred to an emergency housing table. This table will assess assistance through affordable housing provision.

Allegations and Future Conflict

Both the Department of Social Rights and the Sant Adrià council confirm they are monitoring cases. They have found some do not meet vulnerability report requirements. Additionally, both institutions, as members of the Consorci de La Mina, have reported alleged illegal resales and re-rentals of the occupied homes.

An occupant, however, suggests a different approach. "Those who are vulnerable should be offered social rent to stay in the flats," they proposed. "And those who have re-rented and those who take advantage, we can help remove them." The occupant warned of an escalating conflict. "We respect the institutions, but there are children behind the doors. We must provide a solution; otherwise, we will go to war," they cautioned.

As evictions continue, residents anticipate a prolonged struggle. The occupant predicts a "cat and mouse game" where evicted individuals and those awaiting displacement will dismantle barriers and reclaim their homes. This suggests ongoing tension and resistance in La Mina as authorities proceed with the large-scale housing recovery operation.

Sign up for our new entrepreneurs community Bizcelona, now accepting our second wave of applicants.

Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.