Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport in Madrid, the third-busiest airport in Europe, has become a temporary home for hundreds of homeless people amid Spain’s growing housing crisis. For Teresa, a 54-year-old Spanish-Ecuadorian woman, the airport has been her residence for six months. Every morning, she sets out in search of work, a shower, and exercise before returning to Terminal 4, where she sleeps with her husband.
Life in the Airport
Teresa earns 400 euros ($450) per month caring for an elderly woman, which covers her gym fees, transportation, and food. Despite the challenging circumstances, she maintains a storage unit in Madrid’s Leganés neighborhood, where she previously lived. “We can’t make demands. We’re squatters,” Teresa said, using a term common in Spain. “Squatters in what is private property. We are aware of that. We want help from authorities, but not a single one has come here.”
The Role of Authorities
AENA, Spain’s airport operator, has accused Madrid’s city authorities of providing inadequate help, stating that the city government’s statements confirm its “dereliction of duty” and abandonment of the airport’s homeless individuals. In response, Madrid’s city council has asked Spain’s national government to take charge and come up with a plan to rehabilitate every homeless individual sleeping in the airport. “Without them, there is no possible solution,” said Lucía Martín, a spokesperson for Madrid’s city council division of social policies, family, and equality.
New Policy and Uncertainty
AENA plans to limit airport access during low-travel hours by requiring visitors to show boarding passes. This policy change may force Teresa and her husband to sleep outside on park benches and other public spaces. Marta Cecilia Cárdenas, a 58-year-old homeless woman from Colombia, expressed frustration with the authorities, saying, “It’s like a dog chasing its tail.”
The Extent of the Crisis
The exact number of homeless individuals at the airport is unknown, but a recent count by a charity group identified around 400 people. According to News Minimalist, the number has risen to 500, highlighting the severity of Spain’s housing crisis. The average rent in Spain has almost doubled over the last decade, with steeper increases in Madrid and Barcelona.
Hope for a Solution
Teresa hopes to find a job soon and leave the airport, regardless of what authorities decide. She said, “You end up adjusting to it a bit, accepting it even, but never getting used to it. I hope to God that it gets better, because this is not life.” With the airport’s new policy set to take effect, the future remains uncertain for Teresa and the hundreds of others living in Madrid’s airport.