A street in Madrid as a portrait of public housing: 18 closed apartments, 18 missed opportunities

In Madrid's Carabanchel district, 18 public housing units remain vacant for years, highlighting a broader issue of unused properties managed by the Comunidad de Madrid. Despite the government's efforts to combat illegal occupations, the process of reassigning these homes is slow, leaving many families in need without shelter. Local residents express frustration over the situation, noting that these empty units could accommodate dozens of people. The Comunidad claims these homes are undergoing repairs or preparations for new tenants, but evidence suggests otherwise. Activists and opposition parties criticize the lack of transparency regarding the number of vacant properties and their management. This phenomenon of empty homes is not isolated to Carabanchel, as similar issues are reported across various neighborhoods in Madrid, raising concerns about housing policies and the allocation of public resources.