As mayor of Yaiza and councilor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, I am deeply concerned about the current housing situation in our municipality and in Lanzarote. The demand for affordable rental homes has grown exponentially, and it is our responsibility to address it urgently.
In recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in tourism, which has brought great economic development, but this has also had a negative effect on the island's housing market. I do not intend to criminalize vacation rentals with these words, but it is more than clear that this reality, added to the lack of land freed up for the public park, is causing a headache for many families and young people who are looking to become independent.
Many of our neighbors face difficulties in finding options that fit their income, which puts at risk the social cohesion of a territory that already suffers great inequalities. The risk of vulnerable situations increases among families who a few years ago lived stably.
The scarcity of affordable housing is causing many young people and families to consider the possibility of leaving Lanzarote, seeking opportunities on other islands or even on the peninsula. This not only affects the demographics of our Island and the labor market that demands personnel, but also impacts the cultural and social life that makes Lanzarote a special place.
It is essential that as an administration we implement clear policies that promote the construction of affordable housing and/or social rentals. We must work in collaboration with developers, the social welfare areas of the town councils and the Cabildo, as well as with the territory planners to identify suitable land and promote projects that prioritize the needs of our neighbors.
From Yaiza we have already demonstrated our concern for the lack of housing with the transfer to the Government of the Canary Islands of a large plot of 42,594 m² located in Montaña Roja for the construction of a first phase of 136 homes for social rental. I trust that the Government will tender its construction as soon as possible.
In addition, it is crucial to rethink, as I have already proposed from Yaiza to the Canary Islands Housing Institute, the President of the Government and the Cabildo of Lanzarote, the purchase of completed developments to allocate them to rentals that our citizens can pay.
And I must say that it has been done, it has been achieved. The recent purchase by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote of 42 homes in the Los Ajaches residential complex in Playa Blanca is the materialization of a Yaiza proposal that can be extended to other municipalities in Lanzarote.
Yaiza continues to be a beacon of light in the search for solutions, and I am not looking for recognition, but I cannot hide that I am glad that they are attending to our proposals, just for the sake of offering well-being. This fact will allow 42 families to have access to a rental home in Playa Blanca. Without a doubt, everything is faster.
I am committed to finding sustainable and creative solutions. I will propose incentives for developers and builders who focus on the construction of affordable housing and I will work to ensure that our urban planning regulations facilitate these processes in the new General Plan that will begin to be drafted this year, after the awarding of the new drafting team.
Housing should not be a luxury, but a right, as stated in the Constitution. As mayor and councilor, my goal is to ensure that every person in Yaiza and Lanzarote has access to a decent and affordable home. Only in this way can we build a prosperous and balanced future for all the people of Lanzarote and those who live with us in the search for a better future. We can do it.
