It is common to see him Neighborhood of salamanca. His health condition is not good. No one living on the street can have it. In his case, it is clear that he needs medical attention, and a roof under which he can recover. However, he doesn’t want help. Social services know about his case, they have been treating him for years, when he leaves, something that happens when his state of health worsens so much that the pain does not let him live. The residents of the Salamanca neighborhood they did not want to look the other way, and moved by his situation, they have started a campaign to collect signatures to request that, if he does not allow himself to be helped, that a court be the one that allows social services to provide him with support, even if it is against his will.
The result of the campaign, initiated by the La Arboleda Neighborhood Association, is the collection of 144 signatures that have already been sent to the Department of Social Care. “Most of the people we have asked for their support have done so without hesitation,” they explain from the association. Although they know that he refuses to receive help, La Arboleda insists that they cannot look the other way in this type of situation. “If they saw someone on top of a bridge, wouldn’t they do anything to help her?” they wonder.
From the Municipal Institute of Social Care (IMAS), its manager, Councilor Rosario González, confirms to DIARIO DE AVISOS that they have already received the signatures of the neighbors, pointing out that the only thing that can move forward is that what they ask for has already been requested by the IMAS for months. “This is a case that we know of. The Mobile Care Unit (UMA) has been intervening with him for years, but often refuses to receive help. We, since last October, went to the court to request that it allow us to help you, and act ex officio. We are waiting for the process to be completed in court and give us an answer, “says the mayor.
The truth is that businessmen and residents of the neighborhood are moved by the case of this homeless person, of which they say that she is always drunk, that she relieves herself on public roads, but never messes with the neighbors. “She suffers from a disease whose two legs are swollen with pus and blood. He eats a lousy diet, with a poor state of hygiene and sanitation (he does not wear a mask), spending the night on the floor of doorways on cardboard, poorly sheltered. He suffers from a very advanced physical and psychological deterioration whereby he may lose both of his legs. He repeatedly refuses all kinds of help, ”they described it in the report on the issues that most concerned the residents of the neighborhood and that last December was carried out by the La Arboleda Neighborhood Association.
The IMAS insists that if a person does not want to receive help, they cannot be forced to receive it. They can only do so when a court, upon request from social services, considers that the person is not capable of deciding for himself and authorizes his admission to an appropriate center, and that he receives the necessary treatment.
