The Deputy of the Common Rafael Yanes points out in his latest extraordinary report that holiday housing "globally affects" islands like Lanzarote and "drastically" reduces the possibility of accessing a house for ownership or rent.
In the Extraordinary Report on the Housing Situation in the Canary Islands from a Social Perspective, it reveals that this phenomenon keeps prices rising. In addition, the demand for housing is more visible in Lanzarote or Fuerteventura where greater economic expansion has been experienced with its corresponding demographic growth.
"In total terms there is no shortage of housing," says the Deputy of the Common Rafael Yanes. "The problem lies in the fact that the housing supply is concentrated in rural areas far from metropolitan centers and tourist centers, in addition to presenting many difficulties for accessing it, such as high prices, mortgage conditions, evictions, etc."
To tackle this situation, the Council proposes that it would be convenient to form a public park of protected housing "sufficient and adequate" to the real demand, to allocate them to social rent, therefore prioritizing social rent as a preferred option. Along these lines, he insists on maintaining permanent public ownership, to "resolve the housing needs of people at risk."
In many cases, the lack of foresight in municipal plans to accommodate the construction of more social housing comes from "obsolescence" in urban planning. "The administration must find mechanisms that allow agile and effective management," adds the aforementioned report.
The lack of housing for women victims of gender violence
If the difficulties in accessing a decent home affect the entire population, it becomes more latent in the cases of people who suffer situations of extreme vulnerability. For example, women victims of gender violence.
In the case of Lanzarote, the Deputy of the Common investigated ex officio the situation suffered by a victim of gender violence and mother of three daughters in Lanzarote, who had scarce economic resources, and faced eviction from the house she occupied. The Arrecife City Council later assured that the woman was already residing in rental housing.
Homelessness
The rates of homelessness in the Canary Islands affect 51 out of every 100,000 people. In these cases, the gender gap is also reflected, as women are exposed "to greater violence." In addition, a quarter of homeless people have a disability greater than 33%."Those who do not have a home are left out of everything: without social or family connection, without health, social or legal coverage, without access to work, culture or education, without dignity," the Deputy of the Common collects.
