Mohamed Essaghiri, a 63-year-old scrap metal collector, faces imminent eviction from his self-built home in La Sagrera, Barcelona. He received a 48-hour notice on 20 March, ordering him to vacate the land owned by Adif.
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Mr Essaghiri, who has lived in Catalonia for 25 years, relies on collecting scrap metal for survival. He told reporters, “If I don’t look for scrap metal, I don’t eat.” He previously worked as a bricklayer but can no longer do so due to a hand injury.
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His neighbour, Madani Jaghidal, 56, also collects scrap metal by bicycle. Mr Jaghidal stated, “Collecting scrap metal is not easy; many times we return empty-handed because there is nothing.” He sends most of his municipal aid to his family in Morocco.
Approximately 100 people reside in the informal settlement on Calle Gran de la Sagrera, in the Sant Andreu district. These residents face displacement as the area undergoes development for the new Sagrera intermodal station.
Eviction Orders Issued
The eviction notice for Mr Essaghiri’s home, dated 20 March, came from the Sant Andreu district’s Legal Services department. It classified his dwelling as “substandard housing” and mandated vacating the plot within 48 hours. Authorities will seek a judicial eviction if residents do not comply.
Officials justify the action by citing “serious deficiencies in safety, health, and hygiene.” An inspection conducted in late October by the Guàrdia Urbana and the Civil Protection, Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue Service (SPEIS) supported this decision. The SPEIS report concluded the homes posed a “very serious risk to the people living there.”
This follows a recent operation where Guàrdia Urbana and Mossos d’Esquadra dismantled another shanty town. That settlement was located near the Pont del Treball, just metres from Mr Essaghiri’s current home. Barcelona Firefighters had warned of an “imminent risk of fire” at the Pont del Treball site.
Substandard Living Conditions
The SPEIS inspection detailed the self-built structures. They consist of wood, tarpaulins, scrap metal, plastics, and textiles. Some dwellings, including those of Mr Essaghiri and Mr Jaghidal, utilise an old wall structure.
Exterior walls and roofs are filled with accumulated items like mattresses, clothes, plastics, bicycles, furniture, and scrap metal. The report noted small living spaces with a single sleeping area. Butane gas cooking appliances lack proper extraction.
Residents lack water supply or hygiene systems. Some homes have precarious electrical installations, powered by solar panels. The report also highlighted a significant accumulation of combustible material within some shacks. These conditions mean the dwellings do not meet minimum habitability requirements.
Broader Impact on Vulnerable Residents
Mr Essaghiri expressed his despair, stating, “We will have to make a living. I don’t have money for rent, so I will end up on the street again.” He criticised what he perceives as a “lack of control” from administrations. He believes they merely displace the problem without addressing its root causes.
Mr Jaghidal, despite having legal papers, struggles to find stable employment. He remarked, “I have my CV, but whenever I leave it somewhere, they glance at it and it ends up in the bin.” He sends nearly €700 in municipal aid to his wife and four-year-old daughter in Morocco.
The Ajuntament de Barcelona reports approximately 450 people live in substandard housing across the city. Over half of these individuals reside in informal settlements. Many, like Mr Essaghiri, lack legal residency papers, creating a “dead end” for finding stable work.
Future Prospects for Sagrera Residents
Obtaining municipal registration (padrón) or achieving regularisation through the Spanish government offers the only viable paths. These measures could help residents reintegrate into society and escape their precarious living conditions.
The ongoing urban development in La Sagrera, including the new intermodal station, continues to reshape the district. However, it also highlights the persistent challenge of providing adequate housing and support for Barcelona’s most vulnerable populations.
Originally published by Tot Barcelona. Read original article.
