Latin Americans in Spain
Accommodation as a measure of progress
For many Latin Americans Spain is the entry point into Europe towards greater work opportunities and financial gain. As of 2020 3.1 million Latin Americans reside in Spain or hold a Spanish citizenship. That’s roughly just over 6% of the country’s population with Barcelona being one of the main draws for immigrants.
Accommodation in the city during the pandemic has been difficult. The pandemic has shown housing and income inequality for immigrants. A new rent cap law failed to pass and rents have been rising steadily: with Catalonia's residents spending 56.5% of their income on rent according to a report conducted by Fotocasa.
The following photos were taken in the homes of Latin Americans in Barcelona at differing stages, incomes and ages. But all have one thing in common: they are Spanish-speaking in a Spanish-speaking country, but feel separate, estranged. Some have just arrived and live in modest comfort while others live in big apartments within the center of the city. This series shows how where we live highlights a lot about our circumstances and position in life. It shows that our wishes and our presence is never permanent.
Alejandra
Alejandra is a veteran of Barcelona. She’s moved six times and lived in the city for 18 years. For her, Barcelona is home. After leaving her native country Chile to study in Mexico, and later going to Spain, she hoped for adventure and greater opportunity.
Her home is a large 5th floor apartment in the Sant Antoni neighborhood, with the sun shining directly on the balcony during Spring and Summer. She feels comfortable in this beautiful space where she’s been with her long-term partner Julian for the past seven years . “Chile is very limited and here I feel free.”
Maria Luque Soto
Like many immigrants coming to Europe, life was difficult for Maria, an architect from Bogota, Colombia.
After her master’s and internship, Maria’s legal residency didn’t allow her to be employed: “They’ll put as many obstacles as possible in your way if you’re an immigrant.” So she chose to pay for legal advice: “Some get married, some pay lawyers.”.
In 2014 the Spanish government allowed citizenship to Sephardic Jews – the descendants of Spanish Jews expelled from the country in 1492. If you could prove that your descendants were expelled from Spain, you would be eligible for Spanish citizenship. Maria had a genealogical study done and found that her name originates from this period of Jewish expulsion.
Today Maria sits on the 5th floor of her stunningly decorated apartment on the right side of Eixample, a lavish part of town with bars, boutiques, and 19th century architecture. With her own architecture firm, she has achieved what she set out to do when she arrived in Barcelona. When asked whether her ambition was tempered, she responds: “Not yet. I want to devour the world”.
Mercedes
Mercedes studied photography in Mexico and came to Europe for further education and adventure. Without any friends or contacts, she was completely on her own, when she arrived in November 2021. She stayed in Airbnb’s during her first couple of months.
Mercedes now lives with a Catalan family in El Poblenou, a vibrant up and coming district. She takes care of the children, and sleeps in the spare room of the house with food and accommodation taken care of. “I’ll eventually want to move on, but this is the best thing for me right now. It’s a good start”, she explains. It’ll be a long process to achieve the life and comfort she wants, but for now she has found stability.
Laura
Starting out from Colombia, Laura had many opportunities growing up due to her mother’s work as a diplomat within Italy and later Spain. After completing two masters – in Rome and Milan – she stayed with her mother in Spain. After 7 years, she now lives as a national of the country.
While the design of her apartment is minimalist, it’s clear that a lot of thought has been given. It hasn’t always been this way: “My mother started crying because this is so different from my first home. I had two suitcases and no job when I arrived”, Laura explains. Now working in the fashion industry, Laura has worked her way up: “This is not only a house, but also a statement for how far I’ve come.”
Miriam
From being single in the district of Sant Antoni to sharing an old apartment on the left side of Eixample: Miriam, a 25-year-old Guatemalan, is now living with her soon to be partner, Carolina, a 21 year old Irish-Polish artist.
With Miriam’s studies being deferred for another year and her deciding to not return to Guatemala, she was left with no legal right to work.
Her plan now is to obtain a ‘Pareja de Hecho’, or ‘legal partnership’ with Carolina to carry on living – and hopefully working – within Spain. This is why they have just moved into this old apartment on the fourth floor, Carolina’s mattress still bare and a broken window beside her bed. “I’m happy to do it for a friend”, Carolina says smiling.
Their apartment reflects the constant change both newly emigrated young women are experiencing. The walls are bare, as is much of the furniture and a strange smell is coming from the street below the kitchen window .Through having a partner with an EU document, Miriam can apply for residency, “I don’t feel like I’m cheating the system, more like making a shortcut”, Miriam exclaims.
Sources
Población por comunidades y provincias, país de nacimiento, edad (grupos quinquenales) y sexo, 2022, Instituto Nacional de Estadística
