The Platform for Decent Housing of Lanzarote, in collaboration with other island platforms, has developed a 'Manifesto of Commitment Measures for Housing' with proposals to develop and execute in the new Housing Plan of the Canary Islands 2020-2023, which have been presented to all the institutions of the island.
From the Platform for Decent Housing of Lanzarote they explain that, "as several of these measures are of municipal competence and require a commitment from the municipal administrations", last week they put "to the attention of all political groups, of all the town councils of Lanzarote, the present manifesto so that they would study it and assume it in their proposals to the plenary if they consider it convenient", an action that they point out that they have also carried out in the Island Council.
Specifically, the manifesto requests to urgently promote the qualification of the municipality as a "Municipality of preferential location of protected housing", as well as to promote bilateral agreements to promote the park of rental housing or assigned for use between town councils and the Housing Council. Similarly, it is requested to guarantee "compliance with the laws protecting minors, disabled people, the elderly and victims of gender-based violence in accessing decent housing"
The Platform for Decent Housing of Lanzarote also demands the creation of municipal housing rental service offices, as well as the urgent promotion of a vacant housing program in collaboration with the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands. It also requests "commitment to participation and transparency" and to "social regulation of housing in the face of speculation" with a "social planning of vacation rentals", as well as a "commitment to access to housing not only in the construction of social housing".
Evictions "of several families" pending
Finally, the Platform for Decent Housing of Lanzarote states that "although some evictions have been halted on this island in recent weeks, thanks to citizen mobilization and the cooperation of competent bodies such as the Police and Judicial Commissions, several families on the island are still awaiting a forthcoming eviction".
"It is the job of the Town Councils and other administrations to ensure that the old 'bubble' real estate, now turned into a 'rental bubble', does not continue to leave so many families in Lanzarote in a situation of helplessness", he concludes.
