The Cabildo of Lanzarote hosted this Monday morning the act of the signing of the contract between the Diocese of the Canary Islands and the awarded company Transporte y Excavaciones Tiagua SL for the construction of the Integral Care Center of the Diocesan Cáritas, a large-scale social project that will represent a before and after in the model of care for the most vulnerable people on the island of Lanzarote.
Alongside the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, and the bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos Pérez, the vice-president of the first Corporation, María Jesús Tovar; the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña; representatives of the company awarded the works, and the project architect, Martín Martín, also attended the event.
The new comprehensive Cáritas center, located in the Altavista neighborhood, will feature over 7,000 square meters dedicated to housing a residence for the elderly, a day center, emergency housing for families at risk, a soup kitchen, a food bank, and a vocational training center. All these areas will allow for the centralization and reinforcement of the work currently carried out by Cáritas in different parts of the island, bringing together all its services in a single space and significantly optimizing its capacity to respond to the most vulnerable individuals.
Furthermore, this infrastructure, whose contract value amounts to 10 million euros, financed entirely by the Cabildo de Lanzarote, will also integrate the basement built in 2008 by the Hermanos de la Cruz Blanca, thus recovering a structure that has been paralyzed for more than fifteen years.
“A promise fulfilled to those who need it most”
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasized that this project "is much more than a construction, it is a promise fulfilled to those who need it most and a demonstration that Lanzarote is moving forward without leaving anyone behind." Betancort recalled that this project "was paralyzed for years, but today it begins to become a reality thanks to the collaboration between the Cabildo and Cáritas Diocesana," highlighting the "involvement and sensitivity of the government team and the departments of Social Welfare and Finance."
"This center," the president adds, "symbolizes the union of institutions, faith in working together, and this Corporation's commitment to people and social justice. Behind every brick there is hope, dignity, and a future for many families on our island," Betancort stated.
The vice president of the Cabildo, María Jesús Tovar, emphasized that today is a day to celebrate because "finally, after more than fifteen years of neglect, this care complex will soon be a reality" and announced that "the works will begin in the coming weeks, after the signing of the site survey report, with an execution period of 22 months".
A Human and Structural Response to Social Exclusion
For his part, the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, emphasized the impact the center will have on the island's social care network. "We are taking a historic step in building a more supportive Lanzarote. This center will not only offer essential services but also a human and structural response to those suffering from social exclusion or lacking the resources to get by," Acuña stated.The counselor also highlighted that the complex "will integrate care, support, and training in the same space, allowing people to rebuild their life projects with support and dignity."As highlighted by the bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos, "the new Integral Care Center of Cáritas will be a benchmark in the Canary Islands, an emblematic work that will improve operational efficiency and expand the range of services aimed at residential care, and social and labor support for the most vulnerable people on the island."
