The Symbol of Migratory Precarity

The selfie in the stairwell that exposes precarious housing

A photograph of a woman taking a selfie in an apparently empty and unfinished stair landing has become the catalyst for an intense debate about living conditions in the most degraded apartments of cities. The image, circulated on social media, shows a person looking at the marble floor of the stairwell with an expression of pride, as if they were in a palace. Behind this scene is the reality of hundreds of families living crammed into minimal housing, often without contracts and in irregular administrative status.

The phenomenon of 'pateresque apartments'

The term «piso patera» (dilapidated property) has become established to describe rundown properties rented by the room to vulnerable migrants. In many cities, demand pressure has led these spaces to be occupied spontaneously, even in common areas such as landings or entrances. Neighbors describe scenes of overcrowding and lack of sanitation. In the case at hand, a stairwell landing has become home to two families, and another occupies the space under the mailboxes. Coexistence becomes confrontational.

The perception gap

While the woman portrayed seems to find luxury in the stairwell, many neighbors interpret the image as a symptom of neighborhood decay. Some maintain that, for people coming from rural homes without plaster, an apartment with marble and granite can represent a significant improvement. Others go further, pointing out that the presence of these families, often in irregular status, fuels the discourse of 'invasion.' In this context, immigration becomes a scapegoat for housing problems.

The underlying political debate

There are those who point to the responsibility of politicians, from left to right, for facilitating the mass entry of people without resources or housing. Criticism extends to immigration laws and the lack of integration policies. Others, however, emphasize that the problem is not immigration but the absence of social housing and real estate speculation. The discussion becomes heated.

Meanwhile, the photo continues to circulate. Two families already live in the image's entryway, and another under the mailboxes. The stairwell, far from being a passage, has become a territory of conflict. The debate about housing, immigration, and coexistence is served, with no easy answers.