Arona, one of the most strained municipalities in the Canary Islands regarding housing, has been excluded from the Tenerife Cabildo’s "Activa Vivienda" (Activate Housing) program. This initiative, with a budget of 12.5 million euros for the construction of 227 homes with affordable rent, will not benefit Arona.
The municipality's application was rejected for "submitting a letter expressing their willingness to join, but without submitting any documentation, resulting in the rejection of the application," according to the 18-page resolution from the island corporation.
The spokesperson for the Socialist Group, ex-mayor José Julián Mena, criticised the management of Arona's Council saying: "The incapacity of the mayor, Fátima Lemes, and her governing team is becoming increasingly evident. Not only have they failed to advance a single project in a year of mandate, but they have also lost opportunities provided by other Public Administrations, such as the Cabildo, wasting a key aid for thousands of Arona residents who do not have access to affordable housing."
The PSOE in Arona, which has the majority holding in the City Council, has denounced that Lemes' government, despite having 14 full-time councillors and the legal limit of 25 paid advisers, has caused the municipality to be excluded from the Tenerife Cabildo’s aid for building public housing or acquiring unfinished or finished housing held by private entities, such as banks, which would allow affordable housing to be brought to the market.
Mena is certain that the 12.5 million euros that the Government has allocated, will benefit other municipalities in providing 227 homes for affordable rent to their residents. He also reminded that in the previous term, municipal land was allocated for the construction of public housing in the La Estrella area, "without any progress being made in its development."
Mena also emphasised that this island-wide program, which Arona will not be able to access, will enable other municipalities in the south of the island with different political affiliations, including Granadilla de Abona, Güímar, Arico, Santiago del Teide, and San Miguel de Abona, to build 150 homes with affordable rent for their residents.
