Santa Cruz Faces Homelessness Crisis, Mayor Seeks External Aid

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is struggling to cope with the large number of homeless people in the city, as well as responsibilities that aren't strictly local. Over 730 people are currently homeless, with 55% coming from other towns. An additional 222 individuals with mental health issues are also in need of support.

Recognizing the severity of the situation and the lack of help from other government bodies, the mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, has asked for assistance from the Diputación del Común. He met with its head, Dolores Padrón, to discuss the homelessness crisis and the strain on the city's services.

The Diputada del Común has launched an official inquiry and has pledged to work with other authorities and the Public Prosecutor's Office to find solutions. She has proposed three immediate steps:

• Activating the Canary Islands' Tutelary Council to take responsibility for vulnerable individuals.
• Creating more support services for homeless people in other towns and with various organizations to spread the care burden away from the capital.
• Implementing the Assertive Community Team (ECA) to help those with mental health problems.

Padrón explained that an emergency response team, linked to the ECAs, could quickly assess and assist individuals in crisis, ensuring the Public Prosecutor's Office is immediately informed. She suggested an on-the-ground emergency team for homeless individuals with mental health issues or those in extreme situations, directly connected to emergency services, allowing for swift intervention by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

She believes the autonomous community's guardianship body should be responsible for these individuals, providing guidance to the justice system for their care after mental health assessments. Padrón noted that while the Canary Islands have adopted a national homelessness strategy, a specific regional plan is missing.

Padrón also mentioned that the Cabildo of Tenerife is the only entity with a plan, but it requires more funding and extraordinary measures to be effective. She stressed the need for individualised care for many people in Santa Cruz, which requires mental health teams in the metropolitan area.

In response, the Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, has announced a mobile psychiatric and addiction care service for the capital, as requested by the City Council, to help address the issue. However, Padrón emphasized that this support should extend to all four major Canary Islands capitals. She highlighted a lack of coordination and resources among organizations, which needs to be resolved to prevent people from being displaced from their home towns and placing an undue burden on other municipalities.