The Housing Exchange, managed by the Department of Social Welfare, Youth and Housing led by Inés Rojas, is currently managing 149 homes on the island, of which 87 are already rented. This project also contributed to the accommodation of about 500 young people in 2008.
Regarding the entire Archipelago, this exchange facilitated accommodation in rental or ownership to a total of 461 young people during the past year. Of the total number of young people accommodated, 109 accessed rental housing and 352 bought a home through this program as well. In addition, during the past year, 65 young people who bought through the Youth Mortgage received a subsidy from the Government of the Canary Islands of up to 12,000 euros for the down payment.
The head of housing for the Government of the Canary Islands, Inés Rojas, stated that "the objective and great priority of this Government is to promote rental as the best way for our youth to access housing, which is why we have promoted all aid to both owners and tenants that allow, on the one hand, to mobilize the stock of empty homes and, on the other hand, to favor the emancipation of the youngest with prices more affordable to their income".
Profile
The profile of the people housed in the Canary Islands during 2008 was that of a young person of about 30 years old, with secondary education and with a salary, in the case of renting 1,100 euros per month, and in the case of those who accessed the purchase of 1,400 euros.
As for the homes, the average price of the home purchased was 151,628 euros and the rental price was 446 euros per month. These are homes of 70 and 80 square meters that range between 2 and 3 bedrooms.
"The Exchange", explains Rojas, "already installed on all the islands through more than 20 offices, develops a program that is facilitating young residents in the Canary Islands, from 18 to 35 years old, their independence from the family environment and the beginning of their stage of personal and professional growth through great facilities to access a new home".
