Canary Islands social exclusion rates hit 42% for single-parent families

New data from the FOESSA Foundation reveals significant social exclusion rates among minors in the Canary Islands. Approximately 33.8% of people under 18 in the archipelago are in a state of social exclusion. The vulnerability increases based on household composition: 38.4% of households with two or more minors, 42.3% of single-parent families, and 46.1% of large families with five or more members are affected.

During a presentation to the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Ricardo Iglesias, Secretary General of Cáritas Diocesana de Tenerife, noted that the organization assisted 12,466 people in 2025, including 2,250 minors. Housing instability was identified as a primary driver of exclusion. Through the ‘Base 25’ project, Cáritas provided social and legal support to 768 households to prevent evictions and homelessness, involving 527 minors.

Iglesias highlighted that housing issues impact one in three people in the region, leading to mental health struggles, family tension, and residential insecurity. He advocated for simplifying social service procedures to improve access to aid.