Alejandro Marichal: “We have launched a real response to homelessness with an unprecedented investment.”
Dimas Sarmiento: “We want to offer real opportunities to homeless people, accompany them and reintegrate them into society with dignity and commitment.”
The Department of Social Services of San Bartolomé de Tirajana proposes to the municipal council a multi-year commitment to the Social Work of Reception and Development (OSDAD), endowed with an investment of 300.000 euros until 2028, with the aim of strengthening the care and reintegration of homeless people in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
This measure represents a decisive step in the municipality's social policy, aimed at providing structural and long-term solutions to homelessness. OSDAD, an organization with extensive experience in social intervention, will work in coordination with the municipal Social Services department to offer a specialized, accessible, and compassionate resource that guarantees immediate attention, support, and access to basic rights such as food, hygiene, and the fulfillment of essential needs.
The approved agreement outlines the implementation of two complementary lines of action. The first, managed by the Social Welfare and Development Agency, will focus on direct and immediate assistance, prioritizing the protection, support, and dignified care of homeless individuals. The second line will be developed by the Department of Social Services itself, which will create a municipal team for social and employment reintegration, funded through a grant to be requested from the Gran Canaria Island Council and the Government of the Canary Islands. This team will work on training, healthy and work habits, and professional integration, with the aim of promoting the full integration of individuals into society.
This initiative falls within the framework of Law 16/2019 on Social Services of the Canary Islands, the National Comprehensive Strategy for Homeless People 2023-2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The total planned investment will exceed €650.000 during the period 2025-2028, comprising €300.000 from the agreement with OSDAD and €352.000 to be managed through the island and regional governments. This joint effort will allow for a comprehensive, planned, and coordinated approach to addressing homelessness among institutions.
This morning, an initial meeting was held between the parties, attended by Alejandro Marichal, Dimas Sarmiento, and the board of directors of the Social Welfare and Development Organization, headed by its president, Jesús García Barriga, a Brother of St. John of God. Also present at the meeting, which included secretary Doris Benítez, accounting manager Juan Cabrera, director Carolina Brito, staff member Ángel López, and social worker Cornelio Vega, were the guidelines for cooperation and the intervention methodology that will guide this new social inclusion project.
According to a study prepared by the Social Services area, 87% of the homeless people currently in the municipality are not residents of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, a fact that highlights the supra-municipal nature of this problem and the need for coordination between administrations to offer effective and lasting solutions.
Alejandro Marichal, First Deputy Mayor, emphasized that “after years of administrative neglect, after many governments came and went without addressing this challenge, we have taken action, providing a real response to homelessness with an unprecedented investment. Our goal is to offer lasting solutions to a reality that requires commitment, planning, and hard work.”
For his part, the Councillor for Social Services, Dimas Sarmiento, emphasized that “we want to offer real opportunities to homeless people, support them, and reintegrate them into society with dignity and commitment. This agreement not only addresses an urgent need but also lays the foundation for a fairer and more humane model, in which no one is left behind.”
With this initiative, the Social Services department is establishing a sustained, long-term strategy aimed at reintegrating homeless individuals into society and the labor market, guaranteeing not only immediate assistance but also support, training, and real employment opportunities. This public policy is committed to social transformation through work, dignity, and inclusion.
