MARICARMEN ABASCAL : Meridia
MARICARMEN ABASCAL
Spain's housing crisis has become one of the country's
most urgent social issues. In September 2026, the story of an 87-year-old
woman in Madrid brought the question of housing, eviction and social
protection into the spotlight.
Maricarmen Abascal had lived in the same apartment in Madrid's Retiro
district for 71 years. Her parents originally rented the property in
1956, and Maricarmen subsequently continued living there.
After the property changed ownership, a prolonged
legal dispute developed over whether she could remain in the apartment under
the existing rental conditions.
Eventually, a final eviction was scheduled for
September 2026.
The case attracted considerable public attention
because of Maricarmen's age, her extraordinarily long connection to the
apartment and her financial circumstances. Supporters argued that removing an
elderly woman from the home where she had spent most of her life would leave
her in an extremely vulnerable position.
The authorities, however, maintained that alternative
accommodation had been offered.
On 23 September, the eviction went ahead.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the building to
express their solidarity with Maricarmen. Protesters, activists and
neighbours waited outside as the judicial authorities arrived.
Maricarmen was eventually taken from the apartment on
a stretcher and transported to hospital.
The images of the eviction quickly circulated through
Spanish media and social networks.
For many protesters, the incident represented something
much larger than one woman's housing dispute. They argued that it illustrated
the difficulties experienced by people who are unable to cope with
rising housing costs, especially elderly people and households with limited
incomes.
The case also raised a fundamental question:
Where should society draw the
line between property rights and the right to housing?
Property owners may argue that they have legitimate
legal and financial interests. Housing activists, meanwhile, argue that housing
is fundamentally different from other commodities because people depend on it
for security, stability and a place to live.
The debate intensified after the eviction.
Large demonstrations took place in Madrid and other
Spanish cities. In Madrid, protesters gathered in Puerta del Sol, one of
the city's most famous public squares.
Some demonstrators decided not to go home.
Instead, they put up tents and slept outside in
solidarity with Maricarmen.
What began as a relatively small action developed into
a larger encampment. People organised themselves, shared food and
equipment, held meetings and discussed the wider housing crisis.
For participants, spending the night outside was
intended to demonstrate that the issue deserved sustained attention rather than
a single afternoon of protest.
The encampment also attracted people who had never
previously participated in demonstrations.
Some identified directly with Maricarmen's situation.
Others were concerned about their own rent, the difficulty of buying a home or
the future of housing in Spanish cities.
The slogan:
"Ni una Maricarmen más."
— roughly, "Not
another Maricarmen" — became associated with the movement.
The phrase transformed Maricarmen's personal situation
into a symbol of a wider problem.
It suggested that protesters did not want her case to
be treated as an isolated incident. They wanted it to stimulate a broader
discussion about how Spain deals with housing, ageing and vulnerable tenants.
The government's response became another part of the
debate.
Different political groups proposed different
solutions, ranging from stronger tenant protections to policies designed to
increase the supply of housing and protect property owners.
There was also disagreement about the role of public
protest.
Supporters argued that demonstrations had forced
politicians, businesses and the public to pay attention.
Critics questioned whether street mobilisation should
influence individual legal disputes and whether prolonged demonstrations could
unfairly affect local residents and businesses.
Eventually, negotiations involving Maricarmen's
representatives, the property company Urbagestión and Madrid's municipal
housing organisation resulted in an agreement.
Under the agreement, Maricarmen will be able to return
to her apartment after leaving hospital. A new eight-year rental agreement
links her rent to her income, with the monthly payment capped at 30% of her net
income.
The agreement resolved Maricarmen's immediate housing
problem, but the wider debate continues.
Her story has raised questions about housing
affordability, ageing, property ownership, social responsibility, activism,
protest and the meaning of home.
Perhaps the most important question is not simply what
should happen to one elderly woman.
It is:
What should happen when the
interests of a property owner and the basic security of a vulnerable tenant
come into conflict?
1. VOCABULARY MATCH — PART 1
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
1. stretcher |
A. a place where someone lives or stays |
|
2. eviction |
B. a disagreement between people or organisations |
|
3. spotlight |
C. likely to be harmed, hurt or negatively affected |
|
4.accommodation |
D. being able to pay for something |
|
5. dispute |
E. intense public interest, media coverage, and attention |
|
6. solidarity |
F. the removal of someone from a property, especially by legal authority |
|
7. affordable |
G. support with another person or group, especially during a difficult
situation |
|
8. vulnerable |
H. a portable structure used to carry someone who is injured or ill |
|
|
2. VOCABULARY MATCH — PART 2
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
1.encampment |
A. a thing or product that can be bought and sold |
|
2. municipal |
B. the act of organising people to take collective action |
|
3.mobilisation |
C. an agreement to rent a property for a particular period |
|
4. prolonged |
D. to deal successfully with a difficult situation, problem, or stress |
|
5.property |
E. a temporary camp established by a group of people, often protesters |
|
6. commodity |
F. relating to a town or city instead of a national government |
|
7. cope |
G. a building or piece of land that someone owns |
|
8. tenancy |
H. continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected |
3. SYNONYM MATCH
|
Word |
Synonym |
|
1. cope |
a. show |
|
2. prolonged |
b. unity |
|
3. vulnerable |
c. handle |
|
4. solidarity |
d. extended |
|
5. demonstrate |
e. exposed |
|
6. property |
f. financially manageable |
|
7. affordable |
g. settlement |
|
8. resolution |
h. ownership |
4. ROLE PLAY — THE EVICTION
A — Maricarmen's supporter
Keep her in the apartment.
B — Property owner
Defend the owner's rights.
C — Housing activist
Demand stronger tenant protection.
D — Government official
Find a solution.
5.ROLE PLAY — THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE FACING THE ELDERLY
You are taking part in a public discussion about the biggest
challenges facing elderly people in modern society.
Choose one challenge. Explain why you think it
is the biggest problem, and propose possible solutions.
Choose one:
A — Financial insecurity
B — Loneliness and social
isolation
C — Healthcare and declining
health
D — Housing and homelessness
E — Age discrimination
Discuss
- Why is your chosen challenge the biggest?
- How does it affect elderly people?
- What are the main causes?
- What could governments
do?
- What could families and communities do?
- What practical solutions would you propose?
6. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
You are a government official.
An 87-year-old tenant is facing eviction.
Each student chooses one and defends their position:
A. Stop the eviction temporarily.
B. Find alternative housing.
C. Negotiate with the owner.
D. Provide financial assistance.
E. Allow the legal process to continue.
F. Your own solution.
Explain your choice.
7. THE LANDLORD
You own an apartment.
Your tenant has lived there for 20 years.
Rents are rising and your costs are increasing.
What would you do?
A. Increase the rent?
B. Keep the rent stable?
C.Sell the property?
D. Negotiate?
E. Offer a long-term contract?
Explain your decision.
8. THE TENANT
You have lived in the same apartment for 20 years.
Your rent suddenly increases by 40%.
What do you do?
A. Negotiate.
B. Move.
C. Challenge the increase.
D. Ask for government help.
E. Find a flatmate.
F. Something else.
Choose. Defend your decision.
9. HOUSING IN BARCELONA
Discuss.
1.
Why are rents so
high?
2.
Who benefits from
rising property prices?
3. Who loses?
4.
Should tourist
apartments be restricted?
5.
Should governments
build more social housing?
6.
Should long-term
residents receive extra protection?
Quick question
What is the single biggest
housing problem in Barcelona?
10. You are the mayor.
There is a SUDDEN POPULATION
BOOM
A huge international company opens a headquarters in
your city.
5,000 employees move into the area.
Predict what happens to:
→ rents
→ property prices
→ restaurants
→ transport
→ local residents
You are the mayor.
Give three policies to protect existing
residents.
11. FAMOUS PROTEST MOVEMENTS —
WHAT MADE THEM EFFECTIVE?Throughout modern
history, some protest movements have attracted international attention and
contributed to major political or social changes.
Choose one movement. Research it and discuss what made it significant.
1. Black
Lives Matter — Worldwide, 2020
2. Arab Spring — Middle East &
North Africa, 2010–2012
3.
The Salt March —
India, 1930
4.
The Catalan
Independence Protests — Spain, 2017
5. The Yellow Vest
Protests- France, 2018
6. Occupy Wall
Street- USA, 2012
What happened?
Who protested?
What did they do?
What happened afterwards?
Now compare: Which tactics could also be used in a housing
protest?
12. WHAT MAKES A PROTEST
EFFECTIVE?
Choose five:
- large numbers
- media attention
- social media
- famous supporters
- peaceful demonstrations
- boycotts
- civil disobedience
- overnight protests
- legal action
- political negotiations
Discuss
Which five would you use? Why?
13. WHEN DOES A PROTEST GO TOO FAR?
A peaceful protest lasts several days.
Businesses complain.
Residents cannot sleep.
The protesters refuse to leave. What should the authorities do ? Discuss.
14. REAL ESTATE SCENARIO — A
DIFFICULT TENANT
You are a property manager.
A tenant has lived in the apartment for 12 years. The owner wants to
increase the rent because prices in the area have gone up.
The tenant says they cannot afford the increase.
What would you do?
A. Increase the rent.
B. Increase it slowly.
C. Negotiate with the tenant.
D. Keep the rent the same.
E. Find another solution.
Explain your
decision.
15. REAL ESTATE SCENARIO — THE
INVESTOR
You are a real estate consultant.
An investor wants to buy an apartment building in Barcelona, renovate it
and increase the rents.The current tenants are worried they will not be able to
afford the new prices.Would you recommend the investment?
Consider:
- Profit
- Tenants
- Renovation costs
- Reputation
Explain your decision.
16. REAL ESTATE SCENARIO — A NEW DEVELOPMENT
Your company wants to build 300 new homes.
Local residents are worried about more traffic, noise and higher property
prices.
You must attend a meeting with the residents.
Your task:
- Explain the benefits of the project.
- Answer their concerns.
- Offer two possible solutions.
Would you support the project? Why?
17. REAL ESTATE SCENARIO — A
PROPERTY WON'T SELL
You are a real estate agent.
Your agency has been trying to sell an apartment for eight months.
The owner wants €900,000, but similar properties are selling for
around €800,000.
The owner refuses to reduce the price.
What would you tell the owner?
Discuss:
A. Reduce the price.
B. Improve the marketing.
C. Wait for a better buyer.
D. Make another proposal.
How would you convince the owner?
18. REAL ESTATE SCENARIO — TOURIST APARTMENTS
You manage several apartments in Barcelona.
Tourist rentals make more money, but there are stricter rules and there is
a high demand for long-term housing.
What should your company do?
A. Continue with tourist rentals.
B. Change to long-term rentals.
C. Use both options.
D. Sell some properties.
Which option is best? Why?
Should the authorities
intervene and if so, what should they do ?
19. Maricarmen became a symbol of something much bigger than her. What did she become a symbol of ? Do the same thing for the following people :
20. FILL IN THE BLANKS
Word Bank
resolution — vulnerable —
commodity — accommodation — mobilisation — eviction — affordable — solidarity —
dispute — encampment — tenancy — urgent
1.
The court
authorised the final __________ of the elderly tenant.
2.
Hundreds of people
expressed their __________ outside the building.
3.
Maricarmen was
considered particularly __________ because of her age and circumstances.
4.
Protesters
established an __________ in Puerta del Sol.
5.
The authorities
said that alternative __________ had been offered.
6.
The disagreement
developed into a prolonged legal __________.
7.
Housing has become
an increasingly __________ political issue.
8.
The case triggered
a major social __________.
9.
Many young people
cannot find __________ housing in Barcelona.
10. The original __________ agreement had existed for
decades.
11. The agreement eventually provided a __________ to
Maricarmen's immediate problem.
12. Some economists argue that housing is a __________
that can be bought and sold.
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