Beneath the C-31 overpass in Badalona, just minutes from Sant Roc station, life seems to have come to a standstill. Here, amid the noise of traffic and persistent dampness, more than eighty people have spent their second week on the street. They were evicted from the former B9 institute building—the largest squatted housing site in Catalonia. Now, their shelter consists of dozens of tents lined up along the roadside, where they try to shield themselves from the cold and rain. Most have not received any stable alternative accommodation after the forced eviction ordered by mayor Xavier García Albiol of the Partido Popular.
Attempts to find temporary refuge in the small park opposite the old institute failed: the city police did not allow them to stay there. People were forced to return to the area beneath the overpass, where they spent the holidays. There was no holiday spirit here—each day felt like the last, and the future seemed uncertain.
Temporary solutions
Since the start of the week, some of the evicted residents have been relocated to temporary shelters. This became possible thanks to an agreement between the Catalonia government and several social organizations. However, for many, the situation remains unclear. Some were sent to shelters in Lleida, Girona, and Tarragona—separating them from friends and relatives who had supported each other through difficult times.
“They say it’s temporary. But what does temporary mean if we’re already on the street?” shares Abdu Naser, one of those left under the bridge. He came from Nigeria and doesn’t hide his fatigue. According to him, most of the options offered are just short-term shelters for a few days, after which they’ll have to look for a place to sleep again.
Life on the street
During the day, life buzzes in the improvised camp. Volunteers from Cocineras por la Paz prepare breakfast, while local residents bring clothes, food, and blankets. On Christmas Eve, a Mossos d’Esquadra police officer who took part in the eviction quietly stopped by. The help is received gratefully, but the atmosphere remains tense. Many haven’t showered for over a week, and exhaustion and frustration are building up. People fear they’ll be relocated again, without being told where or for how long.
The overall mood is anxious. Everyone feels like a temporary guest here, unsure of what tomorrow will bring. “We haven’t been able to shower for a week,” Abdu repeats. Others agree: temporary shelters don’t solve the problem, because in a few days they’ll end up back on the street. “It’s all just for a week. Then we’ll be homeless again,” says one resident of the camp.
Families divided
On Tuesday evening, several Red Cross vans arrived at the camp to take some people away. Some agreed to leave, although no one explained how long they would be able to stay at the new locations or what would happen next. Sasha, a former B9 resident from Ukraine, ended up in a hostel in Malgrat de Mar. “You can leave your things there for a few days, but we were all separated,” she says. For many, this added to their stress: the temporary housing is far from familiar places, and there is no information about the future.
Gema, another former B9 resident, works in Badalona. She doesn’t understand why she is being sent to an unfamiliar town where she has no job or acquaintances. “I lived here, I work here, and now they’re relocating me somewhere without even explaining where,” she says in frustration.
A holiday without celebration
Despite the harsh conditions, volunteers keep helping. During the holidays, different organizations take turns preparing hot lunches and dinners. On Wednesday evening, large pots of food were brought to the camp to at least bring a bit of warmth to Christmas night.
Abdu suddenly stops, as if just now realizing what’s happening. “I didn’t even notice… today’s Christmas,” he says, tiredly looking at the rows of tents along the road. Here, under the bridge, the calendar doesn’t matter. People remain in place, unsure what the future holds.
