Access to the beach at Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Maritime Park has now been restricted. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority has started setting up fences in the area and placing signs notifying visitors of the beach’s closure. Additionally, television surveillance cameras will be installed to prevent further occupation by homeless individuals.
The Port, National, Local Police of Santa Cruz, and the social services of the Chicharrero City Council carried out the eviction of individuals who were camping at this beach yesterday morning. This action was in compliance with previous notices sent to the 16 regular illegal occupants of this coastal location in recent months.
Officials from the Port Authority stated that “nine out of the fourteen tents occupied by homeless individuals have been removed. Those remaining have been left in zone five due to closure or lack of authorization from their owners, who claim they have nowhere else to go.”
Puertos de Tenerife will now seek a court order to remove the remaining huts on the beach near the Maritime Park. According to port agency sources, “if these huts are considered as dwellings, they cannot be touched without authorization from a judge.” The port authority aims to secure the court order by next week.
Shelter Assistance
The Mobile Care Unit (UMA) of the Municipal Institute of Social Care (IMAS) of the City Council offered several homeless individuals the option to relocate to the Municipal Reception Center, commonly known as a shelter. However, most individuals expressed that they did not see this as a viable solution and requested alternative housing from the council.
City council sources mentioned that “municipal social services have been providing assistance to these individuals. The Port Authority sought our cooperation, and it will be extended based on identified needs.”
Among the individuals living in the huts, who had been residing on the beach for up to four years, there were five Canarians, five Hungarians, one Belgian, one Valencian, and three Moroccans.
The eviction process was carried out peacefully, with many individuals having left voluntarily before the arrival of police security forces. In August 2023, users of 12 booths vacated the area following a cleanup operation initiated by the city council, but more booths reappeared in the following weeks.
Last November, the Port was called upon for assistance, leading to the initiation of procedures to close the location. The eviction was notified once again in February and March, culminating in yesterday’s eviction.
