Diocesan Caritas Tenerife accounted 2,261 people in a situation of extreme social exclusion in Tenerife in 2022. This was indicated by this organization during the presentation of the III Report on Extreme Residential Exclusion on the Island, which has been carried out in collaboration with the Council Tenerife. The figure represents 477 fewer cases than in 2021 (2,738), although Cáritas emphasized that the oscillations are influenced by multiple variables and that the focus should be on the more than 2,200 registered.
He coordinator of said report and of the Mobile Street Care Units for Homeless People (UMAC) project, José Antonio Díez was in charge of presenting the main data. Díez recalled that this work provides continuity to the project that arose in 2020 and through which data for 2021 was also published. Now those for 2022 have been presented and the objective is to publish this year’s data in 2024, according to the island counselor. of Social Action, Águeda Fumero, who highlighted that these studies are fundamental for the decisions taken in this field to be correct.
Living outdoors, in accommodation resources, in “unsafe housing” (a term they use for squatters) or in “inadequate housing” (used for shanties or similar) are the scenarios of the homelessness. Of the total of 2,261 people in a situation of major residential exclusion, the majority are located in the municipalities of Santa Cruz (885 and 39.14% of the total), La Laguna (331; 14.64%), Arona (301; 13.31%), Adeje (147; 6.5%) and Puerto de la Cruz (113; 5%).
Regarding the problems and temporality, the study prepared by Cáritas and the Cabildo establishes that “Almost four out of every ten people in extreme residential exclusion have been in this situation for between 13 and 36 months, and more than 20% have been homeless for more than ten years,” collects the note from Cáritas Diocesana. «Not in vain, the homelessness “It is a broad phenomenon that affects from different levels, with multiple problems and without a single solution,” he adds.
With respect to the context, Cáritas pointed out that, “from a global perspective, there is a recognition of a generalized issue, linked to the difficulty of access to housing, which within the European framework is becoming a main structural issue, which affects , with increasing prejudice, to the different layers of the general population. “Especially at population levels in situations of exclusion.” And they added: “With regard to Canary Islands, we would be talking about 29.1% of the population in a situation of social exclusion. Of this group, 14% would correspond to situations of severe social exclusion, where it can be assured that in 88.8% of these households the concurrence of unsafe and inadequate housing conditions determines the situation of severe residential exclusion.
Women and foreigners
José Antonio Díez stopped at the situation of women and showed concern for the 25.7% they represent of the total. 73.77% are men and the rest are transsexuals. “As in the studies carried out in 2021 and 2022, the percentage of women in this situation exceeds 25%, most of whom are victims of violence, abuse and attacks,” the note states. «For this reason, we speak of double discrimination and a greater degree of vulnerability, the very thing of the homelessness and the fact of being a woman,” she adds.
«Homeless women often face institutional violence, which occurs through discriminatory policies, practices and attitudes in social support and service systems. This can include the denial of basic services, the lack of access to safe havens from gender violence due to mental health or addiction problems, and the lack of adequate support to escape homelessness,” explains the organization. «It is important to highlight that these experiences are not universal and may vary depending on context and geographic location. However, homelessness itself significantly increases women’s vulnerability to violence and hinders their ability to seek help and protection,” she says.
Cáritas also stopped at the origin of those affected, of whom 62.23% are nationals and 37.77% are foreigners. «The analysis carried out by Cáritas shows a wide representation of nationalities, as in previous years, reaching 71 nationalities including Spanish, which represents 62.23% of the total, which represents an increase of almost 5% compared to the year previous”, they specify from the organization that prepared the report. They also report that, “due to the lack of capacity and resources to deal with the situation that the group of migrants is going through, many people find themselves without adequate accommodation once they arrive to the Islands. “Some of them end up sleeping on the street, in public squares or in very precarious conditions in improvised camps.” In his opinion, a support network is needed.
Age groups
The highest ranks are located between 26 and 65 years and represent 71.61%. “Another similarity with the two previous studies is the average age of the people identified in the present study, 45.6 years in the case of men and 35.4 in women,” they detailed. The press release states: «The right to health is fundamental for those people who find themselves in a situation of extreme residential exclusion. Unfortunately, they often face significant barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare services. Homelessness and instability of their situation make it difficult to regularly access health services, which can result in untreated health problems, uncontrolled chronic diseases, and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. Additionally, homeless people often face stigmatization and discrimination in the healthcare system, which can make it even more difficult for them to access healthcare.”
José Antonio Díez pointed out that, Of 801 cases analyzed, 56 suffered from mental disorders (6.99%), 55 from chronic depression (6.87%) and 44 from other diseases or health conditions (5.49%). The above are cases in which it could be corroborated with documentation. It also discusses these people who may face barriers such as lack of identification documents, transportation or information about available services. «These difficulties make it crucial to provide specific health services, including medical care in specific care resources, incorporate health technicians linked to the SCS to mobile outreach units and mental health programs that address the particular needs of this vulnerable population, especially from the care of Dual Pathology (simultaneous presence of a mental health pathology and an addiction), one of the great ones abandoned by the health system”, is completed in the press release.
Assistance to municipalities
«From the Cabildo we provide assistance to the town councils to combat the homelessness, especially to those municipalities that have insufficient economic capacity, with the aim of comprehensively addressing situations of risk or social exclusion,” he expressed. Agueda Fumero during the presentation.
For its part, the general secretary of Cáritas Diocesana de Tenerife, Ricardo Iglesias, He thanked the work of the technical team and those affected who collaborated. “We have data for three years, but we understand that it goes back a long time,” said this head of the social group. “Our people in situations of extreme residential exclusion become chronic,” he summarized. Likewise, he asked public institutions to step forward to support these people.