In Madrid, individuals over 60 years old are facing financial pressures from soaring housing prices, leading to their displacement from the city. Rafael Valle and Nieves Cortés share their personal stories of urgency and loss, revealing that many elderly residents have had to relocate away from their families and native homes because they can no longer afford rent alone. Rafael, who has lived in Vallecas all his life, now finds himself in Montesa, Valencia, sharing a house with strangers due to his pension's inability to cover living costs in the capital.

The cost of housing in Madrid has made it particularly challenging for people like Rafael, who are retired and living on fixed incomes. His pension of 760 euros is far from enough to secure a suitable apartment in the city, especially after his divorce. The situation has led to an increase in shared living arrangements among older adults, such as Begoña Revuelta, who is forced to live with 12 housemates because of her medical condition that requires proximity to healthcare services in the capital. This phenomenon highlights a significant social issue regarding the affordability and accessibility of housing in urban areas for vulnerable demographics.

This growing crisis among the elderly population calls for urgent policy attention to address the challenges they face with housing affordability. The experiences of these individuals paint a dire picture of the implications of rising living costs on their quality of life and well-being. Without systemic changes, many older adults may continue to encounter such difficulties, leading to more societal displacement and increasing isolation from communities where they spent their lives.