The Community of Madrid plans to approve a package of measures on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, at the Consejo de Gobierno for those affected by the July wildfires in the Sierra Oeste . The main measures are temporary rent subsidies of up to €1,500 per household per month for a maximum of one year, and the allocation of homes from the Agencia de Vivienda Social to particularly vulnerable families. The regional government announced the plan on 27 August.
The planned assistance is for households whose main home was rendered uninhabitable or seriously damaged by the fires. According to the government, the decision will set out the eligibility criteria, required evidence and deadlines in detail. The amounts announced so far are maximum limits; an aid scheme with an application procedure has not yet been published. The aim is to stabilise the housing situation of those affected in the short term while repairs or a permanent replacement are arranged.
The president Isabel Díaz Ayuso had pledged rapid housing assistance at the end of July. Since then, the government has stressed that its priority is to help particularly vulnerable households quickly. A dedicated phone line has also been set up for the 17 affected municipalities to assess needs and coordinate assistance. In addition, an interdepartmental committee of the Comunidad de Madrid is coordinating reconstruction and support measures in infrastructure, agriculture and the local economy.
Outstanding issues include the precise definition of eligibility, the prompt payment of funds and the process for allocating homes from the Agencia de Vivienda Social. How transparently the selection criteria are applied, and how regional aid is coordinated with support from the state and municipalities, will be crucial. It also remains to be seen how households with substantial damage will be counted if their home has not formally been declared uninhabitable.
The formal decision on 2 September is the regional government’s first meeting after the summer recess. It is intended to turn the course outlined by the Comunidad de Madrid in July into an applicable set of rules. The government said that, after approval by the Consejo de Gobierno, it would promptly publish the implementation details and inform affected families about application routes, deadlines and required evidence.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).