Maspalomas: The luxury resort that is home to homeless Brits
Maspalomas is world-famous as a dream holiday destination for hundreds of thousands of British tourists every year, but behind the image of palm trees, golden sand dunes, and luxury resorts, lies a lesser-known reality: some Brits are not just visiting, they are living on the streets.
Local authorities in Gran Canaria have confirmed that a growing number of UK nationals are experiencing homelessness or severe social vulnerability in Maspalomas. In response, the Department of Social Services has joined forces with the British Consulate to establish a protocol to support both homeless citizens and elderly Britons at risk.
The contrast is striking: while holidaymakers sip cocktails by five-star pools and post selfies against the backdrop of the dunes, some of their compatriots are struggling to find a roof over their heads or even a hot meal.
The hidden side of paradise
Maspalomas, promoted worldwide as a safe, sunny, and sustainable resort, has become a paradox. On the same streets where tourists stroll between beach clubs and shopping centres, mattresses, cardboard, and makeshift shelters reveal the struggles of those who have fallen through the cracks of the system.
Social workers say that cases vary: some are long-term residents who neglected to regularise their situation in Spain, others are pensioners with limited income, and some are younger people who arrived with the promise of seasonal work but could not keep up with rising living costs.
Searching for solutions
The new collaboration between local social services and the British Consulate aims to provide emergency assistance, legal advice, and pathways into housing or repatriation for those in need. It also aims to prevent further cases by offering outreach to at-risk groups before they end up without support.
However, for now, the reality remains a stark reminder that Maspalomas – often portrayed as a paradise of leisure and quality of life – is also home to those who no longer enjoy the holiday lifestyle, but instead face life without holidays at all.
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