Vehicles as housing have become a common sight on Tenerife because overnight stays in vehicles are allowed in Spain.
Can poverty force people to live in their vehicles? The answer is a resounding yes, and this phenomenon is occurring on Tenerife. The phenomenon affects not only low-income individuals but also extends to the middle class due to unstoppable price increases caused by inflationary conditions and exorbitant rental prices. As a result, cars and vans are increasingly becoming an alternative way of living for those who have been victims of eviction.
There are several reasons why people end up in this dire situation. Some people can no longer afford their homes due to unemployment, a medical emergency, or other financial setbacks. Others become homeless due to domestic violence, eviction, or other social problems. These people often seek shelter in a vehicle, which makes it difficult for them to access sanitation facilities, food, and adequate housing. They may also be disadvantaged when applying for jobs, education, and healthcare.
Base 25
Such a way of living cannot in any way be compared to finding shelter in a camper or motorhome, where all the minimum comforts are present. Living in a camper van can be a great experience for people who are financially independent and who appreciate the freedom and flexibility of a mobile unit. This is in stark contrast to the van that must serve as a housing alternative for those affected.
The Base 25 housing program, managed by Cáritas and funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife, is a program designed to address the growing problem, a problem that is larger than most people realize. The goal of this program is to advise and support families at risk of losing their homes, which may also be the reason.
Middle Class
Social workers are working hard to find available solutions. The search for alternative housing for families being evicted is becoming more complicated. In the past, there were vacation homes and affordable rental properties. That is no longer the case; now, only vacation homes remain, even north of the TF-1 highway. Notably, what used to only affect low-income families is now also impacting the middle class.
So much so that Base 25 helped 1,170 residents from 453 households in the first six months of last year. The municipality of Arona tops the list with 98 cases, followed by La Laguna with 79, Granadilla with 75, and Santa Cruz with 67 interventions from Cáritas.
In Six Years
In other words, the south of Tenerife is now on the same level as the densely populated areas in the north of Tenerife. The rent prices in the affected municipalities have risen to the point that salaries are no longer sufficient to absorb the growth in rental prices.
In Arona and Granadilla, the situation has worsened significantly over the past four years. In terms of demographics, there is a clear majority of women in single-parent families. They make up 40% of all households helped by the program. When Cáritas started the assistance program six years ago, there were available homes in all cases of eviction or loss of permanent housing. Now, that is impossible, and the situation is only getting worse. Hence, vehicles are being used as an alternative housing solution.
Guy Devos © Photography
Vehicles as Housing on Tenerife ©
More TRIVIA can be read [HERE].
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