SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 3 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
On Thursday, the Cabildo of Tenerife introduced the inaugural island strategy aimed at social and community inclusion for individuals experiencing homelessness in Tenerife, valid until 2027.
The Minister for Social Action, Águeda Fumero, elaborated on the primary action points of this strategic framework, accompanied by the insular director of Social Action, Yolanda Baumgartner, and the director of Nuevo Futuro, Alfonso Roque, representing the group of social entities involved.
Águeda Fumero clarified that this strategic scheme emerged from an assessment of the homelessness situation in Tenerife, derived from a study conducted by Cáritas, an organisation distinguished for its extensive work with vulnerable groups. “The latest edition disclosed that approximately 2,300 individuals were without stable housing or residing in unsafe or unsuitable conditions, indicating that this issue has intensified in recent years.”
The minister mentioned that, with the objective data at their disposal, a collaborative process commenced, engaging third sector entities, public authorities, professional associations, universities, state security agencies, and individuals facing residential exclusion.
Over 300 individuals and 90 entities took part in this initiative, contributing through 18 sectoral committees and 4 discussion groups comprising individuals experiencing homelessness.
Fumero disclosed that the Cabildo recognised their responsibility to “lead” all actions associated with proposing resolutions for homelessness in an integrated manner.
“For this reason, we opted to create a strategic framework rooted in dialogue and consent, placing individuals at the heart of all policies,” she emphasised.
The actions within this strategic framework are centred around four main areas: prevention, access to rights, the delivery of tailored and personalised responses, and governance and knowledge.
The minister and the insular director of Social Action both underscored the necessity of “averting situations of homelessness from becoming entrenched,” which forms one of the primary aims of this initiative, including the establishment of technical committees and an insular commission for homelessness.
COMBAT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
The insular director of Social Action, Yolanda Baumgartner, provided details regarding the specific lines of action that will be undertaken across the various objectives of the strategy, which she described as “a comprehensive document that also serves as a pledge for fostering autonomy and combating discrimination,” emphasising that “it is crucial to provide specialised support tailored to each individual’s needs.”
Baumgartner recalled that “some of the initiatives outlined in this strategy are already in progress, for instance, the housing emergency hotline, which has been allocated 500,000 euros.”
Additionally, the director of Nuevo Futuro, Alfonso Roque, spoke about the formation of ‘Coordinad@s’ in 2021, aimed at enhancing services for users of the partner organisations within this group.
Roque asserted that this framework “is a clear demonstration of the Cabildo’s commitment to addressing this social challenge through inclusive and collaborative efforts.”
