One of La Rambla's last residents will be able to stay home, for now

Not that many people live on La Rambla, the Catalan capital's emblematic boulevard turned tourist hotspot, anymore. Even fewer people than in the rest of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, where price hikes have caused the number of long-term residents to dwindle considerably in the past years.

This is one of the reasons why dozens of locals took up the call to help Maite, who has lived on this street for years, avoid eviction on Thursday as Mossos police officers were sent to her door to kick her out. Many of these protestors threw rice, confetti, and balloons at the police, loudly chanting "Today Maite will stay!"

Last-minute agreement

Following an agreement between the Barcelona council and Maite's landlord, it seems she will be able to stay in her apartment, if only for now.

Local authorities will take on Maite's debt, pay the landlord another €6,000, and rehouse her within four months, explained housing councilor Lucía Martín, who was also at the Thursday morning demonstration.

According to Martín, who called on Catalan authorities to help find alternative housing facing difficulties and on Spanish authorities to rule in favor of an eviction moratorium, the police presence was excessive: "It's unacceptable for us to be trying our best to mediate and find a housing solution to then get here and find nine Mossos vans lined up."