The Department of Social Services of Xàbia has worked tirelessly since the health crisis due to COVID-19 began. Internally, it has restructured the staff to give an efficient and agile response to the growth of requests for help. Before the State of Alarm was decreed, there were about 150 families in the municipality who needed help for the basics. Now there are almost 500.
In order to carry out the large volume of work (already more than triple that before the crisis), Social Services work morning and afternoon, explains the councilor in charge, Rita Berruti, who wanted to highlight the great work that her equipment.
The City Council provides them with the necessary economic funds (it has availability of up to 2 million euros) and a large part of the Social Center staff is reinforcing the base team in the processing of emergency aid. Despite the fact that the Xàbia City Council already had an established protocol, it has now been modified so that applicants have a response before 8 hours. From there, they are given food vouchers and hygiene products, or, where appropriate, medicines.
They are also in coordination with the Red Cross and Cáritas, whose volunteers are at the foot of the canyon to respond to their users and to new needs in the midst of this unprecedented situation.
Another flank on which the municipal department provides coverage is in emergency accommodation. He has opened a temporary shelter in Balcón al Mar for people who did not have a home or who lived in a sub-housing until they could be relocated to a shelter. The number of fostered fluctuates every day. As of today there are 8 people who use this service, which includes maintenance, laundry, medical monitoring and care 24 hours a day.
A service that has emerged as essential during this crisis is home help. In some cases, users voluntarily dropped out as the family was in confinement and was able to attend to them. However, other cases of lonely, elderly, without family support and requiring care have appeared. From Social Services prioritize this type of care so that the person can continue at home and avoid entering residences.
The Radars program is also in full swing, monitoring over 50 older people who lack family or support networks. The department is also already thinking about the needs that this crisis will leave; In addition to the strong increase in demand for financial aid or the home help service, the area in charge of processing dependency applications will have to be strengthened since they are paralyzed (home visits made to assess cases are suspended) .
Despite the fact that the bulk of management is focusing on these services, from the Social Center all the usual services are maintained: psychological support, legal advice, housing, family and childhood office, support for Tapis users, prevention of addictive behaviors, attention to immigrants.
To contact Social Services, you can make an appointment by phone at 965790500 or 965794142 or by email at the Town Hall generic mail info@ajxabia.org or through the Town Hall social networks.
If there is no phone or internet connection, they can go to the local police checkpoint.