Santa Cruz to Decentralize Homeless Services

Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council is changing how it helps homeless people. Instead of having one main shelter, known as the Municipal Welcome Center (CMA) in Los Gladiolos, they plan to spread out their services. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez announced this shift during the launch of the 2026-2030 Strategic Social Services Plan. The goal is to offer more personal support by setting up smaller facilities across Santa Cruz and even in La Laguna.

This plan won't create more beds, but it will rearrange the ones they already have. The idea is to improve the quality of care and avoid problems that come from having too many people in one place. The current shelter will stay open, but it won't be as busy. The council wants to open smaller centers, similar to the successful overnight facility in the Buenos Aires neighborhood. They'll look for suitable spots in Santa Cruz and La Laguna, recognizing that these areas are closely linked.

This change is needed because homeless people have different needs. For example, 15% require health and social care, and 30% need mental health support. This highlights the importance of working closely with the Cabildo (Island Council) and the Canary Islands Government. The council also wants other towns to develop their own resources for the homeless.

The new Strategic Social Services Plan, which will guide the city for the next four years, has five main goals and focuses on getting results. It will be funded through the city's yearly budgets. The plan includes action in nine areas, with sixty specific initiatives, and will also involve hiring more staff once the Job List (RPT) is approved.

Charín González, the Councilor for Social Policies, pointed out that this plan is unique because it's based on a detailed study of the city's population. This study helps them predict needs and create more suitable solutions. It shows that Santa Cruz has an aging population, with 186 older people for every 100 young people (except in the Southwest district, which is younger). Most residents (92%) are Spanish. The typical person receiving social aid is a woman, aged 25 to 50, with basic or intermediate education, earning between 300 and 800 euros a month, and living mostly in Añaza and Barranco Grande.

This information supports a strategy that targets specific areas to help vulnerable people. Currently, 22% of Santa Cruz residents need some form of social support, and this is expected to rise to 30% by 2030. To address this, the City Council also plans to improve home care for people who depend on others, and to boost mental health programs for children and teenagers as part of its overall plan.