New Cancún Shelter Opens Soon for 50 in Need

Cancún, Mexico — The director of the Municipal Institute Against Addictions in Benito Juárez (IMCA), Alberto Ortuño Báez, announced that the "Shelter to Transform Lives" is nearly ready to open its doors in the coming weeks with a capacity for 50 people in street situations.

Located in Supermanzana 228, Ortuño Báez stated that efforts are now concentrated solely on equipping the facility, which will allow it to help people in street situations and those with addictions to transform their lives toward well-being through rehabilitation.

He elaborated that a census will soon begin to identify the approximate number of people in this condition. He also mentioned that work is already underway to establish agreements with companies, and donations have started to be received to care for those who come to the shelter, thereby reducing the cost to the municipality.

This shelter will be the first of its kind in the state of Quintana Roo. It will have a capacity for 50 people in its first phase and an additional 50 in a second phase. It will include spaces for reception, medical and psychological consultation offices, rehabilitation therapy, a kitchen, a dining room, a multi-purpose area, bathrooms, bunk beds, and recreation areas—all adhering to NOM-028 to ensure the best conditions and facilitate social reintegration.

"We are in the final steps of the shelter for people in street situations, already very excited, already happy because we will finally be able to open this house of life that we need so much. We continue to analyze people in street situations and we continue to work very hard on this issue to help the people who need it, so we will soon be giving you the good news that we are opening the doors of the shelter," he stated.

He added that a couple of weeks before the doors of this site open, the census will be conducted to identify the number of people in street situations in Cancún. In this regard, he explained that conducting it at this moment would make no sense, as the population is very transient and does not remain in a fixed location for long.

He further mentioned that work is already underway to establish some agreements with companies, and they have begun to receive donations to care for those who come to the shelter, reducing the cost to the municipality and allowing them to address other needs.

"We are going to work on a theme of donations so that people can help us and we need food parcels, rice, beans, and basic necessity items, linens, sheets, towels, some clothing; we are already working and we have already been donated things. There are things that we could no longer continue to receive, like the 50 beds, as they will no longer be needed, but above all, food, cleaning products, and we are sure that people will join the cause," he assured.