Santa Cruz Residents Challenge City Plan to Convert Homeless Shelter into Tech Hub

The Diego Crosa building in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has become the center of a heated political debate, highlighting the clash between economic development and the city’s urgent social needs. The Urban Centro Perenquén neighborhood association is challenging the City Council’s plan to spend 1.4 million euros of public money to turn the property into a hub for the animation and video game industry. Instead, local groups are calling for the building to be used to help those facing homelessness.

Silvia Barrera, president of the association, recently raised this issue with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, alongside other government officials. The residents argue that the city is violating Law 5/1998, which granted the Council the property specifically to create a shelter and reintegration programs for the homeless. Because the building has not been used for this purpose in nearly 30 years, the association argues that, under regional law, the property should be returned to the Autonomous Community.

The residents are reviving a 2019 proposal that calls for a facility with gender-segregated areas and specialized units for people with physical or mental health needs. They argue that it is contradictory for the government to prioritize the digital entertainment sector while the city’s homelessness crisis continues to grow.

The association is now urging the regional government to step in and ensure the City Council follows the law. While Francisco Candil, the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, has promised to open talks with the City Council to review homelessness policies and update data on those in need, residents warn that these steps are not enough to address the immediate housing emergency.