Municipal Housing met yesterday afternoon with the residents of houses 9 and 11 of the Path of La Ermita, in the La Salud neighborhood, which are under a slope that presents imminent risk of detachment, according to a technical report requested by the Santa Cruz City Council. A meeting in which these neighbors, who had temporarily abandoned their houses during the weekend due to the rain alert, were informed that in the next few days the municipal eviction order that the legal services of the Urban Planning Management could take effect presented last week in court. That is, they may be evicted, but they will be sent to hotels or emergency flats until they find new rental properties where they can relocate.
An option that until now they had ruled out thinking that they would soon find homes that fit their conditions. It is what has pointed to NOTICE JOURNAL the Councilor for Housing, Juan José Martínez, who was present at this meeting and confirmed that they will have a lodging resource “as long as they leave their homes and find a rental” and that they are continuously in contact with a social worker.
One of those affected is called Francisco, he is 63 years old and lives with his wife, son and his partner. He tells this newspaper that these days they tried to find a flat, but that was not possible. “On the weekend we had to leave here because of the rains and we went to a relative’s house, and my back is shattered. We spent two nights on a mat on the floor ”, says this neighbor, who, although he has visited several rental properties, has not yet decided on any one in particular. In addition, it reveals that there are many owners who “back down” when they find out about the situation they are in.
Francisco says that this situation is very complicated, because he has lived there for more than 40 years and that it is hard for them to tell you this “overnight.” He wants the works to start “as soon as possible” so that he can come back soon. This, despite the fact that last week, the councilor for Urbanism, Carlos Tarife, confessed to DIARIO DE AVISOS that the houses are illegal.
While the eviction takes place and these works begin, possibly next week the prohibition of the passage of people and vehicles continues. Likewise, yesterday morning metal fences were placed over the wall of the ravine to prepare the area for the rehabilitation of the slope.
Municipal Housing has summoned the residents to a new meeting, which will take place next Thursday.
