Santa Cruz Flood Victims Face Eviction as Rental Aid Ends Amid Unresolved Home Repairs
A Santa Cruz court has ruled that the City Council is not obligated to rebuild homes destroyed by a 2008 rockslide, impacting an 82-year-old woman facing eviction after rental aid ended due to her failure to submit a home rehabilitation plan.
Eighteen years ago, a severe flood hit Santa Cruz, leaving many families homeless, especially in the Anaga area. In January 2021, the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, approved a one-year rental aid extension for those affected. This was meant to help them while they prepared plans to fix or rebuild their damaged homes.
However, the situation has escalated to the courts. A recent ruling supports the City Council's decision to stop payments to victims who haven't followed through with their part of the agreement.
One such case involves a family in María Jiménez. A large rock fell on their home during the 2008 storm, making it uninhabitable and forcing them to evacuate. Now, an 82-year-old woman with mobility issues, who has been renting elsewhere for years, faces eviction because she can no longer afford rent after her City Council aid ended. The house has still not been repaired, according to Drago Santa Cruz.
Aitor Montelongo, a spokesperson, stated that residents had warned the City Council about the unstable hillside for years, and even a fence was put up that didn't protect their homes. He added that after the evacuation, the local government promised rent support and help with home repairs, but nothing has been done in 18 years.
Javier Rivero, the Heritage Councilor, explained that the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands reviewed the case. The court found no evidence that the City Council was obligated to rebuild the homes destroyed by the rockslide. Instead, the council was meant to provide other forms of assistance. He also noted that a decree from January 2009 focused on urgent aid for evacuees, not mandatory rehabilitation.
Rivero mentioned that on January 16, 2024, officials met with the family. They had not paid rent since October 2023, a private agreement between them and the landlord. The family refused to submit a rehabilitation plan for their home, stating they were taking legal action. They left the meeting despite court rulings favoring the City Council. Rivero concluded that the municipality has provided necessary resources and is not neglecting the family, but their lack of action makes continuing rental payments unfeasible.
Despite this, the City Council stated that if the family is in a vulnerable situation, they can contact municipal social services for housing assistance.