A large-scale police operation took place this morning in San Sebastián to evict people from an abandoned building—formerly a religious college—in the Martutene neighborhood. Authorities expected to find more than a hundred people inside, but when nearly a hundred police officers arrived, the building was almost empty. Most of the residents, mainly undocumented foreigners, had left on their own several hours before the operation began.
One of the last remaining residents, 30-year-old Abderauf from Algeria, said he had lived there for two years and now has nowhere to go. Seven others were with him in the building; they left without resistance when asked by the police. According to social workers, the remaining former occupants had packed their things in advance and dispersed to other shelters across the city to avoid police encounters.
An Empty College
The Augustinian Order college building has long been in disrepair: broken windows, garbage, makeshift shelters made of cardboard and blankets. It has stood vacant since 2003 and, in recent years, became a refuge for the homeless. Over the past months, police and emergency services have repeatedly been called here due to conflicts, fights, and even a fire.
In July, a San Sebastián court ordered the complete eviction of the property at the request of the Gune Foundation, which has owned the building since 2004 and plans to build a vocational training center on the site. A forced eviction was scheduled for Thursday morning, and by the appointed time, dozens of police vans, including immigration units, canine teams, and municipal police, had arrived at the college. A police drone was flying overhead, and a court representative was present on site.
Operation without incident
The police prepared everything for a large-scale eviction: mobile toilets, an identification area, even a special holding barrier for detainees, which ultimately was not used. The court order was read out over a loudspeaker, urging everyone to leave the building calmly and with identification in hand. However, by that point, almost all the residents had already left.
In the end, only ten people were found in the building. Three of them were transported by police vehicles. The rest left the premises on their own. According to the municipality, 48 former residents found temporary shelter at the city shelter, while another ten were offered assistance but did not accept it. The rest dispersed to other abandoned buildings in the city.
Public response
Mayor Jon Insausti (PNV) pledged that the municipality would provide temporary housing and work with the Basque Country government on integration and training programs for the former residents of the college. However, representatives of social organizations who had supported the building’s occupants in recent days consider these measures insufficient. They gathered at the college with signs reading “no one should be left on the street” and said that many are still forced to sleep outdoors.
That day in San Sebastián was cold and rainy, making the situation even worse for those left without shelter. Social activists point out that the city’s resources do not cover everyone’s needs, and the number of people living in abandoned buildings continues to grow.
What’s next
While the Gune Foundation prepares to demolish the old college and build a new center, the fate of the former residents remains uncertain. Many of them are undocumented foreigners who struggle to find work and housing. City authorities promise to step up support, but non-profit organizations are demanding more systemic solutions.
In the coming weeks, the municipality plans to increase shelter capacity and launch additional aid programs. However, activists argue that this is still not enough to solve the city’s homelessness problem.
In case you didn’t know, the Gune Foundation acquired the former Augustinian college building in San Sebastián back in 2004. The organization specializes in educational and social projects. Soon, a modern vocational training center is set to be built on the site of the abandoned building, which aims to become a new educational space for the city’s youth.
