SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –
A total of 2,261 people are in a situation of extreme residential exclusion on the island of Tenerife, most of whom are located in the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (39.14% of the total), San Cristóbal de La Laguna (14.64%), Arona (13.31%), Adeje (6.50%) and Puerto de la Cruz, with 5% of the total cases.
This is clear from the Third Report on Extreme Residential Exclusion on the Island, which was presented today, Tuesday, by Cáritas Diocesana. The event was chaired by the Councilor for Social Action of the Cabildo, Águeda Fumero, who was accompanied by the general secretary of the Catholic institution, Ricardo Iglesias. The coordinator of said report and the Mobile Street Care Units for Homeless People (UMAC) project, José Antonio Díez, was in charge of presenting its main data.
The study 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. Not in vain, homelessness is a broad phenomenon that affects different levels, with multiple problems and without a single solution. 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, the different layers. of the general population, especially at the levels of the population in situations of exclusion.
With respect to the Canary Islands, 29.1% of the population is in a situation of social exclusion. Of this set, 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.
Along these lines, Cáritas has been denouncing that the chronic nature of homeless people “represents a clear example of the structural deficiencies of our society and the social protection system, reflecting a constant and repeated failure to comply with the fundamental rights of these people. without finding a permanent solution to their basic needs linked to the right of access to housing.
This situation is compounded by a number of complex factors, such as lack of access to affordable housing services, lack of employment and social support, as well as mental health and addiction challenges. As these people face constant difficulties in meeting their basic needs, they become increasingly vulnerable and experience greater social exclusion.
DOUBLE DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN.
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. For this reason, Cáritas speaks of double discrimination and a greater degree of vulnerability, the actual homelessness and the fact of being a woman.
Homeless women often face institutional violence, which occurs through discriminatory policies, practices and attitudes in social support and service systems. This can include denial of basic services, lack of access to safe havens from gender-based violence due to mental health or addiction issues, and lack of adequate support to escape homelessness.
Cáritas highlights that these experiences are not universal and may vary depending on the context and geographical location. However, homelessness itself significantly increases women’s vulnerability to violence and hinders their ability to seek help and protection.
Regarding the different age groups, the highest ranges are between 26 and 65 years old, representing 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.
Likewise, the study carried out by Cáritas highlights that 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 their access to healthcare even more difficult.
They may face barriers such as lack of identification documents, lack of transportation, or lack of information about available services. These difficulties make it crucial to provide specific health services, including medical care in specific care resources, incorporating health technicians linked to the SCS into 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.
ORIGIN OF THE PERSONS.
Regarding the origin of the person, 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 in almost 5% compared to the previous year. In this sense, and 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. Thus, the lack of a support network and its recognition of access to fundamental rights, together with the difficulties in accessing basic services such as food, drinking water and medical care, has generated adding this reality to the group of homeless people in Tenerife. .
In short, the report prepared by Cáritas shows that people in situations of extreme residential exclusion are denied the exercise of their citizenship and are deprived of access to many of their basic rights, such as health care, housing, social protection , registration or neighborhood participation. For this reason, at Cáritas we continue to demand the implementation of real public policies for access to decent housing for all citizens, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups.
Along these lines, they continue to propose a series of measures at the regional and local level, including making visible the reality of homelessness in Tenerife, giving keys to the population to understand the dynamics of residential exclusion without falling into victimhood and paternalism. ; Raise awareness and make Canarian society responsible and create channels and space for action so that people can commit to the right to decent housing.
