Santa Cruz Demands Equal Homeless Mental Health Program
Santa Cruz City Council is demanding the Canary Islands Government implement a street-level mental health care program for its homeless population, over 30% of whom have mental illnesses, citing unequal treatment compared to a similar project launched in Las Palmas.
Data from Santa Cruz City Council's Comprehensive Care Service for Homeless People shows that about 222 homeless individuals in the city – over 30% of the total – have confirmed mental illnesses or clear signs of them. These issues often come from addictions, mental health problems, or a combination of both.
For months, the City Council has been asking relevant authorities, including the Canary Islands Government's Public Health Department, to create special services for these homeless people with mental health conditions. So far, they haven't received a response.
Last October, Health Councillor Carlos Tarife wrote to Health Minister Esther Monzón. He proposed an innovative project for Santa Cruz, backed by Canary Islands mental health experts and successfully trialled in Portugal. This project aims to reduce addictive behaviours and dependencies by setting up street-level psychiatric teams to help individuals directly where they are.
Despite Santa Cruz's request for government help on this issue – which the City Council doesn't have the power to handle – the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) launched a similar pilot project called "Mejora" in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. This happened after Santa Cruz's proposal, and three months later, Tenerife's capital is still waiting for a response from the regional government.
Carlos Tarife told DIARIO DE AVISOS that "a lot is happening in Santa Cruz city centre with these individuals who need constant care and ongoing mental health treatment." He added that residents, shopkeepers, and restaurant owners are complaining about the behaviour of people with mental health issues.
Tarife stated, "Given that Las Palmas has quickly addressed a similar problem, I believe the citizens of Santa Cruz deserve the same rights as those in the neighbouring capital. Therefore, I will fight to ensure the Department of Health finally sets a date to implement this street-level mental health care program in our city too."
Tarife highlighted that while the City Council handles social care for the homeless – spending more than any other Canary Islands municipality on Mobile Outreach Units (UMA), the Municipal Welcome Center (CMA), and other aid – "the healthcare situation for these individuals is not improving; it's stuck."
The councillor stressed, "Despite all the meetings the City Council has had with other relevant authorities, we still haven't heard anything. We're not getting answers about what will be done or when. But what we won't accept is for Las Palmas residents to have more rights than those in Santa Cruz when facing the same problem."
Tarife remarked, "We're not asking for anything special, just the same services as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. If a street care program is already running there, I'm asking the Health Department to implement it in Santa Cruz as soon as possible, as I formally requested. The main goal is to care for these people with addiction and mental health issues and help them improve their quality of life. It's essential."
Last November, the Health Department launched the "Mejora" project in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, developed by the Yrichen Foundation. This pilot program provides street-level care to homeless people with addictions and mental health problems who don't seek help through traditional channels. The idea is that healthcare doesn't wait in centres but goes out to those in need via a mobile unit. The project uses six mobile social workers who assess individuals on the streets and, if needed, refer them to the Foundation's support or therapy services. Santa Cruz has asked for the same program but has not received a reply.
Carlos Tarife, Santa Cruz City Council's Health Councillor, admits that the situation for homeless people with addictions and mental health issues is "getting worse" in the city. He is therefore urging the Canary Islands Government's Health Department to address this problem in Santa Cruz just as it has in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
"I've sent a proposal, and whether they implement my idea or the one from Las Palmas in Santa Cruz, I just want a response for our capital," the councillor added. He criticised Minister Esther Monzón, saying she "has options but is neglecting Santa Cruz, creating unequal treatment between two capitals with the same needs."