The Cabildo of Lanzarote and Cáritas resume the social care center project in Altavista

The Cabildo of Lanzarote announced this Monday the reactivation of a pioneering social project in the Canary Islands and Spain. This is the Comprehensive Care Center of Cáritas Diocesana in the Altavista neighborhood, a 7,000 square meter infrastructure designed to serve the most vulnerable people and families on the island. 

During the press conference, the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, stressed the importance of this great project for the island that will change the model of social care. "This innovative center is not only a necessary infrastructure for Lanzarote and La Graciosa, but an example of what we can achieve when we work together to support the most disadvantaged.” “This ambitious project”, adds Betancort, “will be key to offering dignity and hope to those who need it most.” 

In this way, the Cabildo will allocate eight million euros of its own funds to complete this work, which was initially promoted by the Hermandad de la Cruz Blanca almost 20 years ago, but was paralyzed in 2009 due to lack of funding and political will. "Now, with the help of Cáritas Diocesana and the commitment of this government group, the construction of this social care complex will be a reality,” Betancort stresses. 

This initiative will have a residence for dependent elderly people with 25 places, a day center, a soup kitchen for 50 people and a food bank, as well as six emergency homes for families at risk and an occupational training center. 

A commitment to social inclusion

For his part, the Councilor for Welfare and Social Inclusion of the Cabildo, Marci Acuña, highlights the social impact that this care complex will have. "With this project we not only provide a strong response to the most urgent needs of our elderly and homeless people, but we also offer a second chance to those who are in situations of social exclusion.”

In this sense, the bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos, has pointed out that “thanks to the financial support of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, it will be possible to build, at last, this unique center that will bring hope and a real improvement in the quality of life of many people from Lanzarote”. 

In total, it is estimated that up to 180 people could benefit each day, directly, from the different social resources that make up this center whose works will be carried out during the next two years. As explained by the architect of the project, Martín Martín, “the foundations and the basement that are already built will be used, so it is expected that the execution of the works will be carried out in the next two years”.  

Finally, the president of the Island Corporation has thanked the “joint effort, especially of the areas of Social Welfare and Finance, coordinated by councilors Marci Acuña and María Jesús Tovar, to promote these works”, while thanking Cáritas Diocesana “the generosity, commitment and unconditional dedication in the care and help to the most needy people” and for being “the heart of this great project”.