Nearly 5,500 applicants in the Canary Islands will not receive rent subsidies after the allocated budget was exhausted. Out of 19,381 people who applied for the grant, only 8,295 (approximately 42%) will benefit from the aid, amounting to €37.4 million.
This leaves 28% of applicants without support, while a similar proportion had their applications rejected for various reasons.
The announcement, published on 31st December by the Director of the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI), revealed that 5,428 applicants remain on the waiting list without subsidies.
The funds were there to cover up to 50% of monthly rent, with a cap of €6,500 per application (€1,500 if payments are made in cash). However, due to a lack of financial resources, these individuals will not receive any assistance.
The approved beneficiaries (8,295 in total) have taken up the full €37.4 million allocated budget. Among them, 272 young people under the age of 35 from municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents were awarded €1.2 million. The remaining €36.1 million was distributed among 8,023 general applicants.
Additionally, 5,658 applications were rejected. Of these, 2,928 were voluntarily withdrawn, while 2,730 were formally dismissed for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Altogether, 19,381 applications were submitted for the aid, reflecting widespread demand across the region.
According to the Canary Islands Housing Department, priority was given to applicants based on specific criteria. These included low income, larger household size, and membership in vulnerable groups such as large families, individuals with disabilities, and those who had resided in the Canary Islands for at least five years.
The high volume of applications and the exhaustion of funds emphasize the growing housing challenges in the Canary Islands. While the grant aimed to provide significant relief for renters, the limited budget has left thousands of residents without much-needed support.
