Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expands Housing Support to Combat Eviction Crisis
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is intensifying efforts to combat its housing crisis through a 112.2 million euro strategy that combines legal support for families at risk of eviction with extensive property renovations and social rental initiatives.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is stepping up its efforts to prevent evictions as the city’s housing crisis continues. Local government data shows that social services have already referred 220 cases of families at risk of losing their homes to the courts this year—a figure consistent with the 234 cases reported over the same period last year.
By providing judges with detailed information on a family’s financial situation, the City Council aims to ensure that vulnerability is a key factor in eviction proceedings. Beyond these legal interventions, the city has launched a broader strategy that combines public works with direct financial support for families.
The municipal plan allocates over 112.2 million euros across 4,290 projects. Rather than focusing solely on new construction, the city is prioritizing the renovation of existing housing, with 3,947 of these interventions dedicated to upgrading current properties.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez emphasized the importance of protecting the city's most vulnerable residents. This commitment is reflected in ongoing construction projects in Cuevas Blancas and María Jiménez, where 300 rental homes are being built at a cost of 41.7 million euros. Additionally, the city recently spent 3.47 million euros to acquire properties in Valleseco.
Urban renewal is also a major priority. The city is currently working on over 2,300 homes across neighborhoods including Añaza, Los Gladiolos, García Escámez, and La Salud. The council also manages 1,566 social rental properties in areas like San Pío and Cuesta Piedra, with plans to build 60 more homes in the Southwest.
To help families stay in their homes, the city offers Social Assistance Economic Benefits (PEAS) to help cover rent and mortgage payments. Between last year and now, the council has processed 2,399 of these grants, totaling 4.5 million euros. So far this year, 271 grants worth 586,581 euros have been issued to help families facing sudden financial hardship.