An Innovative Practice of Social Sustainability: The Fight for a New Housing Legal Framework in Spain

Since the financial crisis occurred in 2007–2008, and especially during the ensuing period of austerity, more than 700,000 families have been evicted from their homes in Spain. The social response of Spanish local communities has been the emergence of a networked social movement called “Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca” (PAH; the Spanish Mortgage Victims Group), initiated in 2009. This networked movement aims to build a sustainable future by claiming the right to housing as a key element to ensure basic conditions for quality of life.