Casa Caridad, a pioneering Spanish NGO focused on providing support to homeless individuals and those at risk of social exclusion, reported an increase in the number of Cubans seeking its services this year, confirmed Javier Picazo from the Communication Department of the organization to CiberCuba.
According to information provided by the Social Work Department, there are 7 individuals registered in the shelter services at Casa Caridad Valenciana and 34 in the dining room, all of whom are of Cuban origin, totaling 41 people from the island receiving assistance today. These figures represent a 40% increase in the accommodation service and nearly triple the number of those attending the dining room compared to the same period last year.
What does the assistance they are requesting consist of, and under what concepts are they seeking it?
At Casa Caridad, individuals seek assistance to meet their most basic needs, such as food and shelter. Additionally, social workers from the NGO provide personalized follow-up to address their specific requirements.
The vast majority of people arriving from Cuba come to our organization seeking international protection. In these cases, we provide follow-up assistance and help them with the processes to obtain this status. Additionally, we offer various workshops, such as job search programs, to help them gain greater autonomy.
What is the procedure for individuals to come to you and request the assistance you offer?
Individuals may arrive through referrals from other organizations, such as the Red Cross, or on their own initiative. Once they arrive at our organization, they have an interview with a social worker to assess their needs and develop a specific plan for each person.
Picazo also added that in recent years, they have noticed an increase in foreigners from Latin American countries arriving in Spain seeking international protection. The main reasons for this trend are the conflicts occurring in their home countries and the closure of borders.
Many of these individuals arrive with family, or one of them comes first, and they often have a support network in our city (friends, relatives…). They typically have a housing solution arranged, but due to a lack of stable income, they need to come to our organization for meals. Additionally, they receive guidance on bureaucratic matters related to applying for international protection. They also have access to the various activities organized by the NGO.
It adds that another of the services offered at Casa Caridad is the Early Childhood Schools, where children aged 1 to 3 receive a free education. It was stated that this year they have received applications from families of Cuban origin.
In statements made to the Spanish press, the president of this NGO, Luis Miralles, reported that the number of people housed in the Casa Caridad shelters has increased significantly, with four out of ten being women, representing an eight percent rise since 2015.
Countries such as Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil provide the most significant figures of cases coming from the Latin American continent that arrive there seeking assistance.
Filed under: