Canary Islands Launch Street-Based Healthcare Initiative for Homeless Population

The Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) has launched a new proactive healthcare strategy designed to reach people living in extreme poverty. By moving away from traditional clinic-based care, multidisciplinary teams are now working directly on the streets of the archipelago’s two capitals to support homeless individuals who also struggle with mental health issues and substance use.

The initiative began in late 2025 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the "Mejora" (Improvement) program, run in partnership with the Yrichen Canary Foundation. In June 2026, a similar effort called the "Health Bridges Project" launched in Santa Cruz de Tenerife alongside Doctors of the World. Instead of waiting for patients to visit a health center, these teams travel to coastal areas, settlements, and public spaces. Their goal is to provide immediate help—such as medication management and harm reduction kits—while acting as a link to long-term primary care, mental health services, and addiction treatment.

A key focus of both projects is supporting homeless women, who face higher risks of violence and stigma. The program has already provided personalized care to 60 people, including 15 women who received specialized support for sexual health and protection against abuse. This fieldwork is closely coordinated with local social services to ensure patients receive ongoing, consistent care rather than just one-off assistance.

This outreach is part of a larger effort to overhaul the region’s mental health system, which has added 14 new resources since mid-2023. These include new units for eating disorders and early intervention, suicide prevention programs in schools, and home-based care for minors. The SCS plans to expand this community-focused model to more municipalities, prioritizing direct, local access as the most effective way to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable residents.