‘Housing First’ programme launches in Gran Canaria to tackle rising homelessness
The Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has officially launched its long-delayed ‘Housing First’ programme to address the sharp rise in homelessness across the city. The initiative was first announced four years ago, and comes after figures revealed a 47% increase in the number of people living on the streets in just two years.
A decree signed by Councillor for Social Welfare, Equality, Care and Health, Carmen Luz Vargas, sets in motion the process to choose which organisation will run the new service. According to data from the city’s street intervention unit, 201 people are currently sleeping rough, 162 men and 39 women, compared to 137 recorded in November 2023.
The rise is particularly shocking among women: while the number of men has grown by 35%, the number of homeless women has soared by 129%. Officials have also acknowledged that the true figure is likely to be even higher, as outreach teams do not currently work overnight between 10 pm and 4 am due to staffing limitations.
A new approach to homelessness
The Housing First model turns the traditional approach to homelessness on its head. Instead of moving people through shelters and transitional facilities, it provides immediate access to stable housing, along with intensive health and social support.
Under the scheme, homeless people will be offered places in supervised apartments where they can begin the process of reintegration with the support of medical and social care teams. The approach has already proven effective elsewhere: it originated in the US over 40 years ago and has since helped countries like Finland reduce homelessness by 60%.
This model specifically targets those experiencing long-term street homelessness and severe social or health problems, including substance use issues, who often struggle to adapt to traditional shelter systems.
Long-awaited investment
The council is investing €1.72 million over five years to run the programme, with the option to extend it for another two years. Instead of giving out short-term grants, the funding will now go to a specialist organisation that will manage the service under council supervision.
The original plan to fund it through smaller yearly grants never went ahead, so this new approach is designed to make the programme more stable and long-term.
Wider housing challenges in the Canary Islands
This move comes as concern grows over the housing crisis in the Canary Islands. Earlier this year, Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias said it had helped more families struggling to keep a roof over their heads than in 2024, reflecting the growing pressure on vulnerable households.
With the new Housing First plan, the council hopes to provide a faster and more humane route out of homelessness, giving people a stable home first and building recovery from there. The city has six months to finalise the agreement and begin offering places.
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