Guantánamo.- Since the beginning of this year, Guantánamo has had a Social Protection Center for homeless individuals, located in the town of Montesano, as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen support for people in vulnerable situations.
Jennifer Mayesi Suárez, municipal director of Labor in Guantánamo, explained that the provincial facility is the result of a collaborative effort between several institutions, including Labor and Social Security, Public Health, and Culture, which work together to provide activities and services for the individuals under its care.
According to Suárez, admission to the center is approved by a multidisciplinary committee chaired by the mayors and composed of social workers and specialists from the Public Health system, who evaluate the individuals’ medical conditions and social circumstances.
The Center offers comprehensive care, including lodging, food, and basic services, as well as ongoing medical attention. It also provides psychological and psychiatric care, physical rehabilitation, and barber and hairdressing services, Suárez explained.
Legal assistance is also provided, and cultural, recreational, and productive activities are offered. The latter take place in plots where participants engage in agricultural work that contributes to the rehabilitation process, she added.
Stays at the center are temporary, with a maximum duration of three months. Afterward, an evaluation is conducted to determine if the individual is suitable for reintegration into their family, placement in a nursing home, employment, or assistance with housing solutions, including subsidies or temporary assistance.
