Housing Rights Symbol Maricarmen Dies Two Weeks After Forced Eviction
El Salto
- Maricarmen, an 87-year-old woman evicted from her home in Madrid’s Retiro district on September 23, has died in the hospital.
- Her forced eviction sparked nationwide protests and ongoing encampments against housing speculation.
The Eviction Aftermath
- Following intense public pressure, the property owner, Urbagestion, reached an agreement with the tenant's lawyers to allow her return to her home of several decades.
- Despite this resolution, she passed away before she could return to her residence.
Impact on Housing Advocacy
- The Tenants' Union (Sindicato de Inquilinas) described the death as an entirely preventable outcome caused by a traumatic process.
- The organization stated that her story marks a turning point in the country's housing debate, though noting that the cost to reach this level of public awareness was too high.