Vivienda y empleo precario: las claves detrás del aumento de la pobreza en Canarias, según Cáritas

The article, authored by Carmen Delia Aranda Rodríguez and published by Canarias 7, analyses the rise in poverty in the Canary Islands, focusing on housing insecurity and precarious employment. It draws on data from Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias for 2025, highlighting systemic inequalities that exacerbate social exclusion despite overall economic growth.

Cáritas reports that 58 % of families receiving assistance fall into severe poverty after paying rent, and one‑third of the population experiences residential exclusion. Average house prices have risen by more than 75 % over the past decade, while wages have increased by less than 20 %, creating a widening gap between income and housing costs. Practices such as sub‑standard rentals, overcrowding, and “hot‑bed” rentals by the hour are reported as worsening the situation.

Although employment levels have risen, many jobs are insecure and low‑paid. Only 21 % of those assisted by Cáritas have any form of work, often in the informal economy, which fails to meet basic needs. This paradox of growing employment alongside deepening poverty underscores the role of job quality in social vulnerability.

Women constitute 61 % of Cáritas beneficiaries, many of whom are single mothers with dependants. Migrants account for 54 % of those seeking help, with over half in irregular status. Victims of human trafficking are particularly vulnerable: 655 women were assisted in 2025, a 35 % increase from the previous year, and over 80 % were foreign nationals. Children are also heavily impacted, with 42 % of assisted families having minors.

Cáritas faces a shrinking financial base: public funding has been frozen for years, and anonymous donations fell by 60 % in 2025. The organisation relies on a volunteer force of 1 195 individuals and 108 paid staff to maintain services, highlighting the strain on civil‑society resources.

Cáritas’ 2025 institutional report calls for a fairer distribution of wealth, stronger public investment in affordable housing, and policies that address wage stagnation. The director, Gonzalo Marrero, criticises the limited reach of the Minimum Vital Income, which benefits only one in three people in severe poverty, and urges authorities to act against housing market speculation and inflation.

• 21 372 people assisted in Las Palmas (2 % rise YoY)
• 58 % of assisted families fall into severe poverty after rent
• 75 % increase in average housing prices over ten years
• 21 % of beneficiaries employed, often in informal work
• 61 % of beneficiaries are women; 54 % are migrants
• 655 women trafficked victims assisted (35 % increase)
• 1 195 volunteers and 108 staff support operations These facts illustrate how unaffordable housing and insecure work are central to the worsening poverty landscape in the Canary Islands, offering valuable lessons for sustainable housing policy across Europe.