Ana Sandra UrrutiaUndersecretary of Inclusion and Human Development, spoke on MDZ Radio 105.5 FM about people in street situation at the beginning of the winter season and the approach made by the Municipality of the City of Mendoza to this extremely complex reality.
About, Urrutia assured that it is “an absolutely complex problem. The people who are in street situation They are crossed by a multiplicity of individual and social aspects, deterioration in their mental health, problematic consumption, lack of employment. And, most importantly, lack of housing, of a roof of our own from which to generate different life strategies as most citizens do.”
“From the municipal area, we have a psychosocial team made up of psychologists, workers and social psychologists who address, among others, this problem. When faced with a call to our guard telephone, the team moves to the places where these people are to offer them transfer to a shelter, especially with the low temperatures at the moment,” he commented. Urrutia and added that “in the context of the economic and social situation that we are experiencing, there is a significant increase in the number of people who are in street situation and no one can deny this situation. From the social team, we serve approximately 30 people weekly.”
Urrutia commented that “the shelters are managed and administered by Provincial Contingency. It is articulated from the municipal guard with the provincial guard to accommodate people who, in addition, want to move to the shelters. Currently there are two shelters intended for men, because it is much more large number of people in street situation who are men, and a shelter that operates on Federico Moreno Street, intended for women and children up to 13 years old.
“The idea is that the person is in transit in the place, through connecting with family or community networks, to offer an alternative. It is not temporary for them to return to the street. If there is no alternative, because each case is In particular, they tend to stay in the shelters and stay,” said the official.
Regarding the relationship between the street situation and mental health, Urrutia He explained that people who “are suffering from it, and do not find alternatives, are going to be affected by mental health problems. Living on the street creates a situation of orphanhood and deterioration that, sooner or later, ends in the deterioration of the mental health”.
To communicate with the area, the official Urrutia He said that “the guard’s telephone number, which is active 24/7, is 2614694546. That telephone number can also be found on the City of Mendoza website at www.ciudaddemendoza.gob.ar.” And he added: “Definitely, whoever becomes homeless is a person who has exhausted other resources.”
