Nueva Canarias-Bloque Canarista (NC-BC) once again brings to the table its package of ten measures to address the island's housing emergency, a proposal that the organization presented two years ago and which, as it recalls, was rejected by CC, PP, and VOX.
The Canarian party believes that the evolution of the housing crisis in Lanzarote and the current debate in Spain demonstrate that housing must become a top political priority, also for island and municipal institutions.
NC-BC's plan was proposed in 2024 as a response within the Cabildo's competencies and proposed simultaneous action on public housing, the stock of vacant homes, affordable rent, access for young people, and support for families in vulnerable situations.
The NC-BC candidate for the Presidency of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Yoné Caraballo, believes that "we are not discovering the housing crisis now. We have been saying for years that Lanzarote needs an insular housing policy, that the Cabildo has the competencies and capacity to lead it, and that we cannot limit ourselves to waiting for other administrations to solve the problem," says Caraballo.
The also deputy in the Parliament of the Canary Islands recalls that NC-BC's proposal started from a simple premise regarding housing, "to do many things at once." "We need to build public housing, but also mobilize vacant housing, facilitate access for young people, cap rental prices, protect vulnerable families, and coordinate the seven town councils. There is no single solution to a problem of this magnitude," he explains.
Ten measures to act from Lanzarote
Caraballo proposes ten measures:
Create an Insular Housing Consortium, led by the Cabildo and with the participation of the town councils, to coordinate, promote, and evaluate Lanzarote's housing policy.
Request the Canary Islands Government to declare Lanzarote a Stressed Residential Market Area to temporarily cap rental prices.
Reach agreements with banking entities to mobilize vacant homes held by these entities for affordable rent.
Create aid for the energy rehabilitation of vacant homes, accompanied by municipal tax incentives for small owners who incorporate their properties into the affordable rental market.
Develop an economic-financial plan to build public housing, determining how many homes the Cabildo can promote within a five-year horizon.
Create an island line of guarantees for young people, which facilitates access to housing for both rent and purchase with the guarantee of the Cabildo.
Create and acquire housing intended for the first reception of families in situations of vulnerability and exclusion, also studying formulas such as the Housing First model.
Create an Island Office against Evictions, aimed at advising, accompanying, and protecting affected individuals and families.
Allocate at least 5% of the Cabildo's annual budget to housing policies. It is currently at 2.06% using the budget and remaining funds.
Promote an Island Pact for Access to Housing involving the seven town councils. These measures are part of the package registered by NC-BC in 2024.
Caraballo emphasizes that “none of these proposals are incompatible with the actions that the Government of the Canary Islands or the State may develop. On the contrary, Lanzarote needs all administrations to do their part and for the Cabildo to exercise the leadership that corresponds to it as an island institution,” he affirms.
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