Arona Housing Crisis Deepens as Informal Settlements Expand on Montaña de Guaza

The housing crisis in Arona, Tenerife, has reached a critical point, moving beyond a simple shortage to become a major challenge for local government and community life. According to Diario de Avisos, the growth of informal settlements on the slopes of Montaña de Guaza, near Los Cristianos, has evolved from a warning by the tourism industry into a permanent reality that is now directly impacting local residents.

Nearly 60 people are currently living in tents, wooden shelters, and makeshift structures in an area between the town and a protected natural space. This has created significant tension among nearby residents, who report concerns over health, safety, and environmental damage. Many feel abandoned by local authorities, who have yet to provide an effective solution as the settlement continues to grow.

The Arona City Council points to complex jurisdictional issues as the reason for the delay. The Urban Planning department claims it cannot intervene because the structures are not permanent buildings, while the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment argues that these occupations do not fall under standard planning violations, making it difficult to take traditional legal action.

This is not an isolated issue. Similar settlements, such as Los Vivitos—where 17 structures were recently closed—highlight a systemic problem across the south of the island. A report by the City Council and Cáritas Diocesana de Tenerife reveals that nearly 390 people are living in extreme housing exclusion across 22 informal sites. The data is stark: 78% of those affected have no access to financial support, and more than half suffer from chronic health conditions.

In response, the City Council is calling for a coordinated effort involving the Canary Islands government, the Island Council (Cabildo), and the national government. Without a clear social strategy to address homelessness or a plan to protect the local environment, Arona remains at a standstill, leaving both the vulnerable population and local residents in a difficult situation that no single administration has yet managed to resolve.