The capital of Tenerife consolidates its position among Spanish municipalities with the highest social spending per inhabitant, with an investment of 34.6 million euros and 165.61 euros per resident, above the Canary and national averages.
The City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has allocated 34.6 million euros to social policies in the last fiscal year, which translates to a spending of 165.61 euros per inhabitant. This figure, recorded by the Ministry of Finance and analysed by the State Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services, places the capital of Tenerife above the Canary average (156.95 euros) and the national average (149.86 euros).
A model of close and preventive care
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasised that “behind every euro invested are people, families, and neighbours who find support when they face difficulties.” Bermúdez reminded that the growth of the social budget is not an end in itself, but a tool to provide better services. The City Council has promoted resources such as the Information and Telephone Attention Service (SIAT) or the Electronic Social History, which allow for more agile and personalised care.
The councillor for Social Policies, Charín González, explained that current social services no longer only address situations of lack of economic resources. “Anyone may need support at some point in their life: a family with a dependent, a parent needing to balance work and family, or a neighbour facing an unexpected situation,” she pointed out. González highlighted that the goal is to offer a close and modern response, adapted to the different realities of the residents of Santa Cruz.
Innovative programmes and record budget for 2026
Santa Cruz has programmes such as Housing First, the Minimum Requirement Centre, Mobile Outreach Units (UMA), and food cards, in addition to social rental housing and projects for the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. These initiatives have transformed the care model, shifting from a system based on economic aid to one focused on prevention and autonomy.
The municipal budget for 2026 consolidates this line with a record allocation of 41 million euros for Social Policies, the largest provision in the history of the City Council. This increase will allow for the expansion of resources and strengthening of existing programmes. For residents, this translates into a stronger support network: from immediate telephone assistance to mobile units that visit neighbourhoods, along with housing solutions for homeless individuals.
A continued commitment to social action
The position of Santa Cruz is not the result of a one-off event, but of a sustained evolution over recent years. The City Council has progressively strengthened its capacity to respond, establishing itself among the Spanish cities with the highest social investment per inhabitant. Bermúdez has insisted that “social policies can no longer be understood solely as a system of economic aid; today they mean preventing, accompanying, and generating opportunities.”
The next step will be the execution of the 2026 budget, which will allow for continued expansion of coverage and improvement of service quality. Residents of Santa Cruz can access these resources through municipal social services centres or the citizen attention telephone line.
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