The Spanish Crisis
Ever since the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Spain has been on a downward spiral sparking a financial crisis that has spread throughout the country. At 26%, Spain now has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe forcing millions out of their homes with over 250,000 eviction notices issued since the crisis began. An average of 200 people are thrown out of their homes everyday, with this number set to increase by the end of 2013. The images in this story document the people that have been affected as a result of the crisis, focusing on those waiting to be evicted from their homes as well as the effect on the Spanish landscape.
Nou Mestalla Stadium is the planned new stadium of Valencia CF. Work began on the stadium in August 2007, but was halted two years later in February 2009 due to lack of funding. It remains untouched and needs another 150 million euros to complete. In the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, Spain experienced a construction boom, eventually collapsing leaving millions of homes and other buildings such as this vacant.
Manolo leader of the Stop Desahucios (stop eviction) group in the Spanish city of Valencia gives advice to locals who have all received eviction notices from the banks. Meetings like these happen all over Spain helping those who are awaiting evictions as well as those just starting out in the eviction process.
There have been over 250,000 eviction orders executed by the Spanish courts since Spain sank into recession back in 2008, throwing millions out of work unable to keep up with mortgage and rent payments.
Milagros aged 48 is facing eviction after not paying her mortgage for over six months since her husband’s death. His pension leaves her with only 450 euros to feed her three children and since she is not able to pay the Spanish government has now begun to try and take her parent’s home, in order to pay the debt as their names are down on her mortgage as her next of kin.
Milgros has tried to commit suicide twice since finding out that she may be evicted from her home.
Evictions in Spain were up by 16.7% at the end of 2012, averaging more than 200 per day.
Emilio has been unemployed for two years, he and his wife Ludmyla are struggling to survive on just her wage alone. They plan to move abroad like many people in Spain in the hope of finding work.
Rosita and Georgi may be forced to move to a new country if their parents cannot find employment soon.
Stop Desahucious (Stop Eviction) is a movement all across Spain that helps people to fight back against the government from being evicted. It was started and is made up of people who have been evicted as a result of the crisis.
Kennedy sits waiting on his eviction day in his home in Madrid that he shares with his wife and three children whom he moved out a few days earlier. Kennedy took out a mortgage when the economy was strong but found his payments drastically increasing due to inflation leaving him unable to keep up with his mortgage.
Kennedy's shadow stands beside the rest of his belongings on his eviciton day in Madrid, Spain.
A picture of Kennedy's wife is the only personal possession in the house. Everything else has been removed to prepare for the imminent eviction.
Kennedy stands waiting on his eviction day in his home in Madrid that he shares with his wife and three children whom he moved out a few days earlier. Kennedy took out a mortgage when the economy was strong but found his payments drastically increasing due to inflation leaving him unable to keep up with his mortgage.
Members of the Stop Desahucios (Stop Eviction) Madrid group show their support on Kennedy's eviction day.
Chary's home remains abandoned after receiving her eviction notice when her youngest child was just fifteen days old. The electricity has been cut off from the home causing her to leave.
Chary aged 40 has three children and is awaiting eviction after receiving her notice when her youngest child was just fifteen days old. She is now living with her mother as the electricity has been cut off from the home and expects the eviction to happen any day.
Vicent and his parents are awaiting eviction. Vicent’s parents Pedro and Carmen are both unemployed after the factories they worked for unexpectedly closed down. Like many people they have boxed up all of their possessions, as their eviction is imminent.
Many people have their possessions boxed up for months at a time as eviction can happen at any moment.
Over half of the youth in Spain under the age of 25 are currently unemployed, with the rate of youth unemployment hitting a record high of 55.7%.
Pedro and his son Vicent are awaiting eviction. Pedro and his wife Carmen are both unemployed after the factories they worked for unexpectedly closed down. Like many people they have boxed up all of their possessions, as their eviction is imminent.
People seek eviction advice at a meeting organized by the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca in Madrid, Spain.
Teresa lives in Madrid with her cousin and niece whom she looks after. Even with two jobs she is unable to pay her mortgage of 800 euros per month and faces eviction from her bank.
People look for eviction meetings in their areas organised by the Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca in Madrid, Spain.
Sorry for the inconvenieces I am the head of a family. I have a 4 years old kid and I have no Job neither any help from anyone. I am forced to beg to suppport my family. I am embarrased about it but I am happy, I prefer this than stealing. God bless you. Thank you very much.
A crumbling piece of land stands for sale in Madrid. For sale signs can be seen all over Spain since the real estate bubble burst in 2008 forcing many people to sell their properties at a fraction of the price.
The President of the neighbourhood association speaks at a protest in front of locals in the impoverished neighbourhood of Nazaret, Valencia. The community in Nazaret has been protesting for years for the roads to be widened so that medical services can enter the neighborhood, but due to government cuts there are many areas like Nazaret across Spain that are feeling the full effect of the crisis.
This wall surrounds the impoverished neighbourhood of Nazaret in Valencia, Spain. Built in 1992 it’s locals believe that they have been segregated from the rest of Valencia, with the wall being placed there by the government to hide what is truly happening in Spain from tourists and the world.
Francisco and Ansunción are both unemployed and have two children Ana and Pablo. Ana is the only person in the household who is currently working.
Francisco and Ansunción are both unemployed. Francisco has been unemployed for five years after being made redundant from his construction job, living on 400 euros per month from his redundancy pay. He plans to move abroad for work like many Spaniards, as they will soon be unable to afford to live.
Victoria Maria Lopez aged 55 has Friedreich ataxia, a disability that causes damage to the nervous system leaving her unable to walk or talk properly. Due to the privatisation of the hospitals in Spain she now has to pay for her medicine which costs €8 per item. This is one of many cuts that the crisis has caused across Spain affecting Spain’s elderly and disabled.
Victoria Maria Lopez.
Victoria Maria Lopez's medicine which needs to be taken every two weeks. Due to the privatisation of the hospitals this is one of the many things she now has to pay for.
Victoria Maria Lopez aged 55 has Friedreich ataxia, a disability that causes damage to the nervous system leaving her unable to walk or talk properly. Due to the privatisation of the hospitals in Spain, Victoria now has to pay for her medicine and care which was once free uner the government. This is just one of the many cuts that the crisis has caused across Spain affecting Spain’s elderly and disabled.
A man uses a Bankia cash machine covered in anti-government and bank graffiti. Bankia is one of many banks in Spain that is currently evicting people from their homes.
Overlooking the industrial town of Villacañas, Spain. Factories in this town once employed thousands of people but due to the economic crisis these factories are now abandoned leaving the town desolate.
Puertas Mavisa an abandoned door factory in Villacañas, Spain. This factory once employed over 5,000 people much like many other factories in this industrial town. Soon after the crisis began factories such as this were left abandoned across this now desolate town.
Puertas Mavisa an abandoned door factory in Villacañas, Spain. This factory once employed over 5,000 people much like many other factories in this industrial town. Soon after the crisis began factories such as this were left abandoned across this now desolate town.
An abandoned housing development in the town of Villacañas, Spain. It is developments such as these scattered all across Spain that sparked the economic downfall five years ago causing towns such as this, once a wealthy industrial town to nothing but a ghost town.
