‘It keeps growing’: the tent camp that stands against Spain’s housing crisis
A protest encampment in Madrid's Puerta del Sol has grown to over 300 tents as citizens demonstrate against Spain's severe housing crisis and the 'rentier economy.' The movement gained momentum following the widely publicized eviction of an elderly woman with a disability.
Why it matters
The protest reflects growing social unrest in Europe regarding housing affordability and the impact of speculation on vulnerable populations.
‘This camp is an example of how people still believe that things can change,’ said retired schoolteacher Marta García. ‘This camp is an example of how people still believe that things can change,’ said retired schoolteacher Marta García. Spain ‘It keeps growing’: the tent camp that stands against Spain’s housing crisis An encampment is sprawling across Puerta del Sol plaza in central Madrid in protest against the ‘rentier economy’
Ashifa Kassam in Madrid Tue 29 Sep 2026 00.00 EDT Last modified on Tue 29 Sep 2026 04.43 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google W ielding a broom and dustpan, Marta García, 60, darted past the edges of tents, sweeping up bits of litter as she passed a poster that read: “What kind of times are these, when we need to defend the obvious?”
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