Taking Back Our Homes

Spain has something for everyone, from ancient cities to beaches. Every year, millions of tourists visit its coastal towns and islands to take in the culture, sand, and sea. What about the locals, though?

Rents have almost doubled in the last ten years, but wages haven’t. Developers are slicing up real estate to capitalize on the tourism boom, and hundreds of thousands of properties have been converted into holiday homes. Homelessness is rising rapidly and the housing crisis is in full swing. Residents are currently retaliating. They are urging governments to defend their interests with water pistols and lawyers. Will it, however, suffice?