Vigo's Homeless: Life in the Shadow of 22,000 Empty Homes

In Vigo, Spain, a group of people, mostly homeless, are surviving in an abandoned building on the port's premises. They have set up a makeshift camp with cardboard, blankets, and mattresses to escape the cold and public scrutiny. Life here is harsh: constant fights, insults from local youth, and a complete lack of basic services. The camp's residents share their grim stories of being ignored by the authorities and struggling to afford even a room. Recently, a man died after falling down an elevator shaft in one of these buildings. Activists and volunteers, such as the Os Ninguéns platform, are advocating for the rights of these individuals, calling on the city council to change its policies and provide permanent housing for social reintegration. Meanwhile, according to official data, there are approximately 22,000 vacant homes in Vigo, making the situation even more absurd.