Sabadell’s Plataforma d’Afectats per la Hipoteca (PAHC) has warned of an impending 'Maricarmen' case involving Fermí, a 76-year-old man with a disability from Poblenou, who faces eviction after an oral trial scheduled for next week. The alert comes just days after a new housing decree, dubbed 'Maricarmen', entered into force, intended to block evictions of vulnerable individuals without offering alternative housing.
"The decree is in force, but it gives us no security. Loopholes will be exploited to continue evicting people. the day after it came into force, there was already an eviction scheduled in northern Sabadell,"
said Oriol Sorrat, spokesperson for PAHC Sabadell. The group staged a protest this Tuesday at VIMUSA, the municipal housing company, demanding the suspension of the court hearing. While no eviction date has been set, Sorrat warned that Fermí will likely be unable to remain in his home after the trial.
Fermí, who lives on a state pension, suffers from a chronic illness that limits his mobility and income. According to Sorrat, he cannot afford any market-rate rental property under current conditions. The PAHC has so far failed to secure alternative accommodation for him through official channels.
Decree Faces Early Challenges
The 'Maricarmen' decree, approved by the Generalitat last week, prohibits the eviction of individuals in vulnerable situations unless alternative housing is provided. Despite this, PAHC claims the protections are already being undermined. The group previously halted the eviction mentioned the day after the decree took effect through public pressure.
Sorrat expressed concern that the new law may end up as "wet paper", ineffective in practice, and called for systemic changes in how eviction cases are handled, particularly given the trauma they cause vulnerable residents.
77 Evictions Reported Since January
According to PAHC data, 77 evictions have taken place in Sabadell since the start of 2026. The platform claims it has managed to stop 58 of them, around 75%. All cases involved individuals certified as vulnerable. The group notes that success rates have declined compared to pre-pandemic levels, when they blocked eight out of ten evictions.
PAHC remains committed to mobilising against forced evictions and continues to call for community action to block police entry into homes of vulnerable residents when evictions are enforced.
Reported by radiosabadell.fm, eb.sabadell.cat, diaridesabadell.com, Jordi de Arriba, web.sabadell.cat, GADD, seu.sabadell.cat, Ràdio Sabadell.
