A scandal over the allocation of housing for low-income residents in Alicante has once again drawn attention to the oversight of social programs. At the center of the story are five young people from the same family who received apartments in the Les Naus complex. This situation has raised questions about transparency and fairness in the process, as well as how such schemes affect housing access for other city residents.
According to El Pais, the individuals in question are three brothers and two of their cousins, aged 18 to 24. Each of them was granted a separate apartment in a state-owned residential complex meant to assist those who cannot afford housing of their own. However, an investigation revealed that many apartments remain vacant, while some residents are only registered on paper. In certain cases, more than one person resides in a unit intended for single occupants.
Inspection and suspicions
Alicante police conducted an inspection on orders from Mayor Luis Barcala following appeals from regional authorities and the opposition. The probe revealed that nearly 50 registrations have yet to be verified, and 26 mailboxes are jammed with unopened letters and advertisements. This may indicate that residents are not actually living at the listed addresses.
Particular attention was drawn to the age of the apartment recipients. Authorities questioned how young people managed to qualify if the program is intended for those genuinely in need of support. There are suspicions that various schemes were used to circumvent income requirements, including splitting families into separate households.
Connections with officials
The problem turned out to be broader than a single case. According to the police report, among the housing recipients are individuals linked to the municipality and the urban planning department. Notably, the former head of the urban planning department and the former director of the city hallβs contracts department were also among those who received apartments. After the story broke, both officials resigned.
Of the 140 apartments in the Les Naus complex, 89 are occupied by only one resident, which is unusual for such projects. Twenty apartments house more than one person, while 46 have no registered residents. This violates the rule requiring that the dwelling must become the primary residence within six months of completing documentation.
Response and consequences
The opposition accused Mayor Barcala of lacking oversight and violating the rights of Alicante residents to access affordable housing. Authorities promised to investigate and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The results of the review have been sent to the regional housing ministry for further action.
Scandals surrounding the allocation of social housing in Spain are not new. In recent years, various regions of the country have seen cases of fake registrations, apartments granted through connections, and violations in candidate selection. Such incidents spark public outcry and lead to a review of housing allocation rules, as well as stricter oversight of social program implementation.
