Itabuna launches Mãos Amigas program to support homeless residents

The City of Itabuna has conducted its first outreach under the Mãos Amigas – Laços que Transformam program. Managed by the Secretariat for Social Promotion and Combatting Poverty (SEMPS), the initiative aims to assist individuals living on the streets.

During the initial operation near the Itabuna Bus Station, 26 people were transitioned to the municipal shelter. The program focuses on providing care and facilitating the process of returning to family environments. For those wishing to return to their cities of origin, the municipality provides provisional assistance to cover travel costs, a process that typically takes approximately three days.

Technical teams from the shelter work to contact family members or references to assess acceptance and strengthen social bonds. Erasmo Ávila, the Secretary for Social Promotion and Combatting Poverty, noted that while many residents express a desire to return home, other cases involving addiction present more complex challenges.