In Spain, soaring rents force hundreds of homeless to seek refuge at Madrid airport
With soaring rents pushing working people out of their homes, airports in Spain are becoming reluctant shelters for the displaced
Victor Fernando Meza works during the day, but his salary is not enough to afford rent in the Spanish capital Madrid. So, once again, the 45-year-old Peruvian will spend the night at the airport.
On a sweltering May evening, Meza arrived at Barajas airport before 9pm - just in time to get past security. Any later, and people without a boarding pass are not allowed in under a new policy implemented a week ago to deter the hundreds of homeless people staying overnight.
The measure aims to address the rising number of people sleeping in Spain’s busiest airport – a situation thrust into the spotlight by images showing rows of people lying on the floor among bags and shopping trolleys, sparking a blame game between government officials.
Those who call Barajas home say the increased scrutiny in Europe’s fifth busiest airport is unwelcome.
They doubt solutions will come and fear losing what they see as the safest place to sleep, compared to the streets or the metro in a city where homeless shelters have limited capacity.