70% of residents in the former Palma prison cannot access social services
Half of the 208 people who were counted in the last census have already left the building
PalmA 70% of the 101 people living in the old Palma jail do not have access to social services or an alternative housing, according to statements made this Monday by the mayor Jaime Martínez. Despite Martínez assuring that access to social services depends on the "voluntariness" of the residents, he also pointed out that "there are people who cannot access social resources because there is a regulation" and that "people in irregular situations cannot access them." It was Martínez himself who emphasized that "70%" of the residents of the old jail "are in an irregular administrative situation."
Therefore, the vast majority of people in this situation cannot voluntarily decide whether or not to access social resources, but rather find themselves in a situation where receiving care and alternative housing is not possible for them. In any case, the extraordinary regularization process currently underway "will mark a new scenario," the mayor said.
On the other hand, Martínez has detailed that, of the 208 people who registered in the last census, only 101 are currently living in this property. The mayor explained that "many have left the old jail to move to the mainland", although there are also those who have entered jail and shelters. 45 people have been referred to IMAS. Regarding the people who have left, Martínez assured that they have done so "voluntarily", although he acknowledged that some have received financial aid to leave Palma.
Once the Palma City Council dismissed all the residents' appeals to avoid their eviction, they were notified of the obligation to leave the premises, with five days to do so. 101 in-person notifications have been made, and those that could not be delivered personally will be published in the BOE – there are also five days after publication. "When the deadline expires, the file will be sent to the court to carry out the eviction," explained Martínez, in addition to recalling that the possessory recovery process began on February 27.
Martínez has repeatedly highlighted that the situation in the old prison is a risk for residents, neighbors, and the emergency services that must intervene. Regarding the report rejecting the allegations, which points to the presence of rodents and the possibility of disease transmission that these animals imply –including hantavirus–, the mayor has stated that the document "gave examples" and has qualified the claims: "One must be very cautious with health alerts. Hence the risk... The report would have said so".
In addition to criticizing the Spanish government's migration policies again, Martínez has assured that the Palma City Council "has greatly exceeded" its powers to take charge of the situation in the old prison. When asked what measures beyond municipal powers have been implemented, the mayor detailed that there is an expenditure of over 500,000 euros and that Cort has had to make "a budgetary effort".