SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 20 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Two buses donated by Titsa and conditioned by the Oportunidades de Vida association with the help of the Government of the Canary Islands provide assistance services to homeless people who can wash themselves, get a haircut, use a manicure service and even receive medical attention.
The president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, presented this appeal together with the Minister of Social Rights of the Government of the Canary Islands, Noemí Santana, the Minister of Mobility and president of Titsa, Enrique Arriaga, the president of the Life Opportunities Association, Rafael Hernández, and the insular director, José Alberto León.
Martín thanked the Life Opportunities Association for “that sensitivity towards the most disadvantaged, since it helps to reach where the administrations have shortcomings or where work is also being done, but reinforcements are necessary”.
He also emphasized that “in difficult times and times of crisis is when associations such as the one presenting these buses today are especially necessary, the great demand that the service is having shows that the work of Oportunidades de Vida, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo is fundamental “.
For her part, the Minister of Social Rights of the Government of the Canary Islands, Noemí Santana, explained that with these vehicles they are aimed at the “most vulnerable” population of the archipelago and added that “it is a project that dignifies these people and gives them the opportunity to be able to have healthy hygienic conditions and medical care”.
In his opinion, “this is very important because it is the first time it has been done in the Canary Islands, it already provides service in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife, we hope that it will soon be a reality in Lanzarote”.
The Minister of Mobility and president of Titsa, Enrique Arriaga, pointed out that “in Tenerife there are already agreements with different municipalities, such as Puerto de la Cruz or La Laguna, and it is expected that municipalities will continue to be incorporated to get the most out of buses and, above all, to provide this service at all points where it is needed”.
In addition, he stressed that “this action is not intended to end homelessness, which is a problem that needs the collaboration of all administrations, but to do a bit to help people who need a lot of help to deal with a very difficult situation. complicated”.
The president of Oportunidades de Vida, Rafael Hernández, pointed out that since the beginning of the project, this summer, 393 people have been assisted in Gran Canaria and 251 in Tenerife.
“With this we are not going to solve the problem of homelessness, but we are going to give dignity to people who have nothing,” he said, adding that “the advantage of being a bus is mobility, which allows us to cover more pockets of need.” “.
The two buses that provide service in Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been donated by the Tenerife Island Council company, Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife (Titsa) and refurbished by the association thanks to the help of the Social Rights Department of the Government of the Canary Islands. In addition to these vehicles, another provides service on the island of Fuerteventura.
SHOWER, TOILET, HAIRDRESSER AND MEDICAL ATTENTION
They are equipped with a shower, a sink, a hairdressing salon and another for manicures, and an area with a stretcher for medical attention.
In addition, they have a small reception where users are registered and they are given clean clothes and a personal hygiene kit.
The lower part of the vehicle functions as a warehouse and has an electric generator and two 500-litre water tanks, one with clean water and the other to collect wastewater. In addition, each bus has three workers: a driver, a doctor and a hairdresser.
The vehicles donated by Titsa are large buses, Iveco brand and Noge body, equipped with large warehouses that adjust to the needs of the service that the association develops.
