The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has requested on Tuesday that the municipal reception centre, referred to as Municipal shelter, should not be demonised. It dismisses the notion that it is immediately an insecure area and emphasises the necessity for similar facilities in other municipalities across the island.
The City Council, in a recent statement, highlighted the quality of services offered at the municipal reception centre (CMA) for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The councillor in charge of the Municipal Institute of Social Care (IMAS), Charín González, stated, “While certain conflicts may arise, we are committed daily to fostering integration and creating opportunities for these individuals, aiming to provide them with a new chance in life.”
Charín González further stressed that “while we cannot deny the existence of specific issues with some of these individuals, this is not the common trend. However, we remain vigilant, concerned, and actively involved.”
Additionally, she mentioned that over the past few months, she had engaged in multiple meetings with other authorities to address the challenges faced in assisting the homeless, which includes the scarcity of healthcare resources and lodging options for those dealing with mental health issues.
She highlighted cases of certain CMA users who, despite having a recognised socio-health placement, continue to reside in these facilities.
“It is incorrect to label all users as creators of insecurity in the vicinity, as the stigma often associated with homelessness is misleading. Many of those residing in the CMA are supported by us across various professional domains with the singular aim of helping them reclaim their lives,” she remarked.
According to González, despite Santa Cruz de Tenerife having “the most extensive social services catalogue in the Canary Islands,” it cannot bear the total responsibility for providing accommodation solutions for all the homeless individuals on the island.
As a result, she advocated for a decentralised approach, suggesting the establishment of similar facilities in other parts of Tenerife “with the aim of ensuring that these individuals do not experience a sense of displacement.”
