Lanzarote has an almost poetic talent for selective memory. During the previous mandate of the PSOE and Loli Corujo, we became accustomed to a fascinating insular political logic: to solve the housing problem, an indignant weekly headline, a couple of official photos on carpet, and the worn-out argument of "lack of powers" were enough. However, the numbers do not lie. In 2021, the PSOE government requested a loan of 23 million euros for the island, promising with great fanfare that more than 13 million would be allocated to public housing. Do you know how many euros were actually executed from that allocation? Exactly zero euros. A round, imposing, and shameful zero that left the drawers of this Cabildo empty of projects and thousands of families waiting for a solution that never came.
In May 2023, the Coalición Canaria team led by Oswaldo Betancort took over the insular government with a premise as elementary as it was uncomfortable for the opposition: governing is executing. Despite not holding direct executive responsibility for building, we decided to adopt a comprehensive approach and deploy the largest insular investment effort in recent years, already exceeding 16 million euros of our own money allocated to housing.
Faced with inherited paralysis, the facts speak for themselves:
14 million euros in land and public housing: We have acquired three strategic plots (two in Arrecife and one in Uga) and 42 Official Protection Housing units (VPO) in Playa Blanca, already transferred to the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI) for allocation under affordable rental schemes.
11 million for 76 new VPO in Playa Blanca: We are currently processing, co-financed 50% between the Cabildo and the Government of the Canary Islands (5.5 million contributed by our institution), the acquisition of another 76 protected housing units in Playa Blanca, an operation that will be formalized before December 31 of this year.
Historic breakthrough after 27 years: In just a few months, the 201 protected housing units in Maneje—the first built on the island in almost three decades—will be a tangible reality, while construction work on Triana street will begin imminently.
Furthermore, we have become a pioneering Cabildo in the Canary Islands in direct support of our youth. After the first call supported by the Framework Agreement with ICAVI of June 2024 (where we injected 1.4 million euros), this same week —with the publication in the BOC of September 17, 2026— we have launched the second call for the Youth Rental Voucher, contributing an additional 578,000 euros from insular funds.
This aid grants 250 euros per month (up to 6,000 euros in 24 installments) to young people between 18 and 35 years old to facilitate their emancipation or avoid the demographic challenge, covering rents of up to €900/month for a complete dwelling or up to €450/month for a room. The application period opened this September 18 and will remain active for 15 business days, until next October 8.
We are aware that the speed of administration does not always match the urgency of those seeking a home or suffering pressure on rental prices. But the difference between the past and the present is abysmal: before there was noise and zero euros executed; today there are 16 million on the ground, keys about to be handed over, and direct aid in the pockets of our young people.
Faced with the temptation to point fingers or demonize the small landlord —that easy recipe that only manages to close doors and reduce supply—, in this Cabildo we defend that the solution lies in offering certainty, guarantees, and real incentives. According to the latest official data from the INE's Population and Housing Census, there are approximately 19,986 vacant homes registered in Lanzarote. An imposing figure that shows that the real challenge is not to point out culprits, but to mobilize this residential stock by offering the necessary legal security for its owners to decide to take the step and put them up for rent with peace of mind.
In the coming days, we will formally present the fine print, regulations, and details of our new and ambitious insular strategy. Until then, we leave the opposition comfortably seated on the sofa of complaint, drafting press releases about documents they have not yet read. While others counted stories of 13 million on paper, in this Cabildo we prefer to continue building the house from the foundations.
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
Stay informed with the latest current news.