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La Voz Canaria

Gran Canaria NGO at Limit Due to Public Aid Delays

The Social Work of Welcome and Development in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria denounces bureaucratic suffocation forcing it to seek loans.

Generic image of money and documents, symbolizing bureaucracy and funding.
IA

Generic image of money and documents, symbolizing bureaucracy and funding.

A social organization in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is forced to resort to bank loans due to constant delays in public subsidies, especially those from the city council.

The Social Work of Welcome and Development, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is going through a critical period. The entity has reported that delays in public subsidy payments, particularly those from the City Council, have compelled it to seek bank loans to sustain its activities and care for the most vulnerable.
Although the organization receives funds from the three main administrations, the vice president of the entity has indicated that the capital's council is the one with the longest delays. The agreement with the City Council amounts to 242,000 euros, a figure that has remained almost unchanged since 2009, even though the population served has doubled. In contrast, the Cabildo de Gran Canaria contributes 200,000 euros and the Government of the Canary Islands 139,000 euros, with more agile payment processes.
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"We are as poor as those we serve."

the NGO's vice president
Bureaucracy is a significant obstacle. One example cited is a collaboration agreement for 2025 expenses, whose process began in May, was signed in November, and was paid in December. Added to this is a 20% retention, which in one specific case amounted to almost 48,500 euros, and which had not yet been collected by April 2026. This situation forces the entity to seek external financing, incurring interest that reduces funds allocated for social action.
The organization plays a crucial role in assisting people who are "invisible" to the system, those not on official lists. Their work ranges from processing identity documents to collaborating with forensic police to identify individuals, thereby facilitating their access to aid and integration. Currently, the entity accommodates 150 people in its facilities and serves about 200 daily, with a multidisciplinary team offering comprehensive support.
Despite the difficulties, the Social Work continues to expand its efforts. Recently, following an alert from the Hindu community, they identified about 300 people living in substandard housing in the ravines of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. They have signed a multi-year agreement with the city council to address this need, demonstrating their responsiveness to new social realities emerging on the island.

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