Disabled Spanish woman, 76, sleeps in park despite income

A family of four, two with disabilities, sleeps in a Sagunto park: the gap between resources and institutional response

The story of Herminia, a 76-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair due to bone degeneration, has come to light. According to Levante-EMV, Herminia, her 81-year-old husband with a fractured elbow, their 51-year-old son, and 41-year-old daughter with over 70% disability have been sleeping in a Sagunto park for days. The family is monitored by València Social Services, but bureaucracy left them homeless.

Income insufficient for housing

Although the household receives around €2,000 in pensions—sufficient on paper to rent—no landlord accepts them. Reasons cited are the Housing Law making evictions difficult for vulnerable households and a saturated rental market excluding high-risk profiles. "No one rents to them despite having income," sources say. The daughter sleeps on a slide, while Herminia alternates between a mattress provided by her son and her wheelchair.

Registration obstacles and institutional response

Administrative complexity adds another layer to their plight. The family is registered in Mislata, but vulnerability reports are processed by València Social Services, requiring coordination that hasn't occurred yet. Meanwhile, Sagunto City Council lacks direct jurisdiction. The lack of adapted housing for reduced mobility and severe disabilities further blocks solutions.

Contrast with migrant reception

This case reignites debate: while asylum seekers and unaccompanied foreign minors receive immediate hotel or center accommodation, a Spanish family with two dependents sleeps outdoors. Critics argue reception policies prioritize certain groups, though official responses only refer the file. The situation remains unresolved.