Alejandro Marichal: "At the October plenary session, we will present a project with an investment of over 300.000 euros, and we will ask the Island Council and the Canary Islands Government for collaboration to assist those most in need in our municipality."
Dimas Sarmiento: “The report details where these people came from before arriving in the municipality and indicates that 13,5% previously resided in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, while 86,5% arrived from other places.”
The Department of Social Services has prepared the Social Report on Homelessness in San Bartolomé de Tirajana with the aim of gaining an in-depth understanding of the situation of those living without a roof in the municipality and providing a solid basis for defining effective public policies. This work, the result of months of analysis and interviews, marks a starting point for definitively addressing one of the municipality's most complex social problems.
The report was presented by the First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal (CC), and the Councilor for Social Services and the Elderly, Dimas Sarmiento, at a meeting convened by all political parties to advance the search for solutions to homelessness. Although Nueva Canarias did not attend, and a councilor from the Socialist Party attended in place of its spokesperson, the meeting allowed them to agree on the next steps and reaffirm the shared commitment to improving care for people living on the streets.
As explained by Sarmiento (CC), the study analyzes the reality of 81 people served by municipal Social Services. The majority, 75%, are men, while women represent around 25%. A third of these people are Spanish residents. The report also details their origins before arriving in the municipality and indicates that only 13,5% had previously resided in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, while nearly 86,5% came from other locations. Of these, 12,3% came from other municipalities in Gran Canaria, another 12,3% from other islands in the archipelago, 12,3% from the autonomous communities of the peninsula, and 25,9% from other countries, while in 28,4% of cases they declined to provide this information.
These results show that homelessness in San Bartolomé de Tirajana is not only a local phenomenon, but also affects people who have arrived from other parts of the Canary Islands, the rest of Spain, or abroad.
Almost half sleep outdoors, on beaches or in ravines. Thirty-two percent live in makeshift huts, and others live in vehicles or caves. More than half report having no employment or benefits, and around a third lack a stable income. In many cases, there is a disconnection from the social protection system, which worsens their situation. Regarding health, some people report feeling well, but also a significant number suffer from physical illnesses or mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia.
The council member concluded by pointing out that homelessness is the result of a combination of personal problems, such as addiction or job loss, with structural factors, such as a lack of affordable housing or stable jobs, in addition to the discrimination faced by those seeking rent or employment.
After analyzing the data, municipal representatives agreed to work on the Comprehensive Intervention Project for People Experiencing Homelessness in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, which will be presented to the plenary session in October. First Deputy Mayor Alejandro Marichal explained that a few months ago, all political parties agreed in the plenary session to develop a work plan to care for the homeless in San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Today we held the first meeting, after which, once the data is known, we will be able to define the steps we will take to find solutions and mitigate the effects of this situation. We have made progress towards a clear commitment: at the October plenary session, we will present a project with an investment of over €300.000 and will ask the Gran Canaria Island Council and the Canary Islands Government to collaborate by providing sufficient human resources and resources to care for those most in need in our municipality.
The Comprehensive Intervention Project represents a strategic, professional, and coordinated response to one of the most extreme manifestations of social exclusion. It will provide direct and systematic care to the homeless population, guaranteeing their access to fundamental rights, personalized support, and referral to specialized resources. This intervention will significantly contribute to improving the quality of life of users, fostering their autonomy, and strengthening their social and labor inclusion.
With this commitment, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Department of Social Services is taking a firm step toward lasting solutions that restore dignity and opportunities to those most in need.
