Members of the Confederació Sindical d'Habitatge de Catalunya (COSHAC) entered the offices of the real estate agencies Solvia and Intrum (managers of the Cerberus fund) to demand the halt of evictions at Block 8 in Manresa and for 50 other COSHAC families at risk. Simultaneously, at a press conference in the Parliament, the entities urged the Manresa City Council to “immediately” expropriate the building.
Marta Espriu, spokesperson for COSHAC, noted that the building, occupied since 2021, was “empty and abandoned” before being recovered by Cerberus, the US fund considered the largest housing owner in Catalonia. The entities also called for the regularization of the situation with rents adapted to realities and the expansion of the public housing stock.
“"We classify vulture funds as criminals, for enriching themselves at the expense of the lives of vulnerable families."
The potential eviction of Block 8, where six families with eight minors reside, is scheduled for February 9 at 8 am. A previous attempt on January 14 was halted by about sixty people called by the PAHC del Bages, forcing the judicial commission to postpone the action sine die.
The PAHC Bages also warned of a hardening in the actions of the courts and police forces in eviction processes in Manresa, which translates into “greater aggressiveness” towards vulnerable families and expulsions without housing alternatives.
“"Instead of guaranteeing a solution, we find ourselves with much more aggressive courts and police, who discipline the affected families."
