A social policy expert has indicated that child poverty in Spain is a complex phenomenon, not limited to specific groups, but primarily linked to the employment situation of households. This reality contrasts with public perception, as the country ranks among the most affected in the European Union, alongside Romania and Bulgaria.
“"We have many more poor children than poor adults."
Child poverty extends beyond the lack of food or clothing, hindering the full social integration of minors, such as participation in extracurricular activities or celebrations. Although in the Canary Islands the percentage of children at risk of poverty is around 40.2%, it has shown significant improvement in recent years.
Despite this improvement, Istac data reveals that 50% of Canarian households with minors cannot cope with an unforeseen expense of 900 euros, 14.5% are late with housing payments, and 8% cannot afford a protein meal every two days. To combat this situation, increasing household employment and making aid more flexible to be compatible with temporary jobs are proposed.
Furthermore, the functioning of the Canarian citizenship income has been praised, and the compatibility of housing aid with citizenship income has been defended. Calls have been made to simplify and unify procedures for accessing these aids, avoiding the need to apply for multiple supports from different administrations.
From a child protection organization, a request has been made to prioritize mental health in child poverty policies, given concerns about its increase in families. The creation of individualized pathways for young people reaching adulthood has also been demanded, a critical moment for those at risk of exclusion. It is estimated that over 91,000 minors in the Canary Islands are affected by poverty, with 40% at risk of social exclusion.
