The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, together with the Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion of the Institution, Marci Acuña, visited this Monday the Flora Guadalupe Toledo Shelter Home, a resource managed by the Flora Acoge Canarian Foundation and that, thanks to a subsidy from the Island Corporation, since last December has become the first lodging space in Lanzarote that opens its doors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, destined to the homeless; “thus facilitating a service that the society of Lanzarote was lacking”, said the island president, Oswaldo Betancort.
“I am very satisfied with this visit because we are obtaining the fruits of the subsidy that the Cabildo of Lanzarote grants annually to the projects that the Flora Acoge Foundation directs to the homeless and to social promotion”, said Betancort at the end of a meeting during which, according to the island president, he was able to see firsthand how the Shelter Home works, and “to know the dynamics currently followed by the 15 users who reside in it. I am sure that the multidisciplinary work that the professionals of the Foundation do here will facilitate a better future for them.”
“The permanent opening of the Flora Guadalupe Toledo Shelter Home was an unattended demand during the last decade. The decision of our Government group in the Cabildo, and the improvement of the service that we observe today, demonstrate the success of the measure”, Betancort stressed.
On the other hand, Marci Acuña recalled that the Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion expanded the financing a few months ago, reaching 250,000 euros, in order to open 24 hours a day, all year round. “This offers a better service to the homeless, giving them support, attention and accompaniment.”
Acuña also explained that the Specialized Service for Inclusion and Social Intervention studies each case and then refers these people who are in a situation of homelessness or at risk of being so, “so that users can be part of the Projects in which the Foundation works.”
The heads of the Cabildo of Lanzarote were able to learn this Monday about the individualized work plans that the residents have, as well as the tasks and schedules that are assigned to them during their stay in the center. In addition, joint outings to the outside to make community, healthy leisure or dynamics to promote employment are other keys to social integration that the management of the Flora Guadalupe Toledo Shelter Home, located in the neighborhood of Altavista (Arrecife), handles.
From the NGO they are clear that the intervention of the Cabildo has meant “an achievement that dignifies and improves the quality of life of the beneficiaries. They, due to different circumstances of life, found themselves in a street situation or are at risk of being left without a home.”
33 people so far this year
The Flora Guadalupe Toledo Shelter Home is a temporary medium-long stay accommodation service that includes food, grooming and hygiene, as well as other services such as occupational workshops or therapeutic care and psychological care, among others.
It has a total of 17 fixed places (three places for women and 14 places for men). As of today, there are 15 people staying, with one place for men and one for women still available. There is a waiting list, so the forecast is that the resource can cover the quota in the coming weeks, when the files are resolved.
In addition to offering accommodation and guaranteeing the coverage of their basic needs, the Flora Acoge Canarian Foundation attends, welcomes, guides and accompanies at a psycho-socio-educational and therapeutic level the homeless people welcomed in the process of improving their situation, favoring individualized work plans.
Likewise, it promotes the occupation of their free time in a healthy way and promotes teamwork and networking with the agents involved in the process.
