During the period 2007 to 2011, more than 11,000 families lost their homes or business premises in Almeria as a result of eviction or foreclosure, according to data released by the platform Affected by the Mortgage at the opening of its new office in Almeria city.
The platform has dealt with over 700 queries in the past months. The office they now occupy was donated by a local businessman although it too is under the threat of an eviction order.
The platform has managed to stop some of the recent evictions through payments in kind, restructuring of debts or, in four cases, through help from Social Services. Many of those who have been evicted from their homes have resorted to squatting in unoccupied premises.
The platform is collecting signatures to try and persuade the City Council to declare Almeria an ‘eviction free’ area.