The report issued this Tuesday by the Social Services department of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council confirms that Jénnifer, the woman with two children who was evicted from her home in the Pedro Hidalgo neighbourhood, «is in a situation of social and economic vulnerability»; the City Council has therefore made it clear that it does not agree with the court’s decision.
Since the ‚Maricarmen‘ decree-law, approved by the Council of Ministers on 6 October, came into force, a report such as that would have been sufficient to suspend this family’s eviction if they had nowhere else to live, provided the property in question belonged to an investment fund.
For private landlords, as in the case of Jénnifer and her family, the decree stipulates that the judge should have requested a further report from the relevant housing and social services authority (the Canary Islands Government) to ascertain whether any support is available for those affected.
Eviction: Decree requires a suitable alternative accommodation to be provided first
«In the event that no response is received or it is reported that such measures are not in place, the court shall suspend the proceedings until such measures are adopted and suitable alternative accommodation is secured; this provision shall also apply where a judgement, decree or order has already been issued bringing the proceedings to an end or ordering eviction, provided that the latter has not yet been effectively enforced», the decree adds.
In that scenario, it would be the relevant housing authority that would be responsible for compensating the landlord for the lost rent, unpaid utility bills and legal costs.
Las Palmas: Court's request for a report remains unresolved
That is why, in a statement sent to EFE, the local authority of the capital of Gran Canaria has said it does not agree with this court ruling, «which leaves a vulnerable family in our city out on the street», whilst, of course, «respecting the decisions of the judges and courts».
The City Council has also stated that it is unaware whether the court has requested a report on available housing alternatives from the authority responsible for housing, as provided for in the article of the so-called ‚Maricarmen‘ decree.
Derecho al Techo considers the social report to be timely
For the citizens‘ platform ‚Derecho al Techo‘, which sought to help this family, the City Council’s report on the vulnerable situation faced by Jénnifer and her children is ‚compelling‘ and should have been sufficient to halt the eviction, even though it was submitted at the last minute, just today, to the court that was authorising it (Court No. 7 of the Court of First Instance of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Civil Division).
«The document drawn up by the Department of Social Welfare was lodged with the court before the judicial commission arrived. As you can see, it is a compelling report. Furthermore, the report was shown to the judicial commission itself, which refused to accept it,» states this housing campaign group, which has released a copy of the report to the press, with personal details redacted.
In its view, what happened on Tuesday with this eviction «highlights the need for public authorities and the judiciary to act in a properly co-ordinated manner, ensuring that vulnerable families are not left unprotected when they lose their homes».
«No family should face eviction without their vulnerable situation being properly addressed and alternative housing options being explored,» it argues.
«Gran Canaria: Town refuses to evict a family»
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