The key points are temporarily unavailable. You can still read the full Story below.
Main Points
Panama City has seen a sharp rise in homelessness, with local authorities estimating that more than 1,000 people are living on the streets. According to municipal reports, the number of homeless residents more than doubled between 2023 and 2024, with men representing the larger share of the population. A significant portion of those without shelter are reported to suffer from substance‑abuse disorders. The neighborhoods most affected by unsheltered homelessness include Curundú, Calidonia, Santa Ana, 24 de Diciembre, and Tocumen. In response to the growing crisis, the city government and humanitarian organizations have expanded social services. The Municipality of Panama City recently inaugurated the Comprehensive Care Center for the Homeless (CAIPHAC) in Las Garzas. The facility can accommodate 150 men and 100 women and is the country’s first comprehensive care center that offers a safe place to stay, medical care, psychological evaluations, and substance‑abuse rehabilitation. CAIPHAC operates under a partnership between the Mayor’s office, the Catholic Archdiocese, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Social Development. Entry into the center is voluntary, in line with Panama’s laws protecting individual liberty. Residents who choose to participate must agree to a detoxification program that typically lasts about three months. Social workers use digital facial‑recognition tablets to create electronic medical and social files on site, providing primary hygiene services, food, and shelter options. On a national level, Executive Decree 11, issued on 23 July 2026, established the Inter‑institutional Commission for the Guarantee of Rights and Comprehensive Care of People Experiencing Homelessness in Panama. The decree, published in the Official Gazette, aims to coordinate temporary accommodation programs, promote physical and mental health services, support rehabilitation processes, and strengthen opportunities for training, education, and job placement. It also recognizes the role of civil society organizations, foundations, churches, and community groups in collaborating to serve this vulnerable population. Article source: Newsroom Panama | Image credit: Newsroom Panama
Panama City has seen a sharp rise in homelessness, with local authorities estimating that more than 1,000 people are living on the streets. According to municipal reports, the number of homeless residents more than doubled between 2023 and 2024, with men representing the larger share of the population. A significant portion of those without shelter are reported to suffer from substance‑abuse disorders. The neighborhoods most affected by unsheltered homelessness include Curundú, Calidonia, Santa Ana, 24 de Diciembre, and Tocumen. In response to the growing crisis, the city government and humanitarian organizations have expanded social services. The Municipality of Panama City recently inaugurated the Comprehensive Care Center for the Homeless (CAIPHAC) in Las Garzas. The facility can accommodate 150 men and 100 women and is the country’s first comprehensive care center that offers a safe place to stay, medical care, psychological evaluations, and substance‑abuse rehabilitation. CAIPHAC operates under a partnership between the Mayor’s office, the Catholic Archdiocese, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Social Development. Entry into the center is voluntary, in line with Panama’s laws protecting individual liberty. Residents who choose to participate must agree to a detoxification program that typically lasts about three months. Social workers use digital facial‑recognition tablets to create electronic medical and social files on site, providing primary hygiene services, food, and shelter options. On a national level, Executive Decree 11, issued on 23 July 2026, established the Inter‑institutional Commission for the Guarantee of Rights and Comprehensive Care of People Experiencing Homelessness in Panama. The decree, published in the Official Gazette, aims to coordinate temporary accommodation programs, promote physical and mental health services, support rehabilitation processes, and strengthen opportunities for training, education, and job placement. It also recognizes the role of civil society organizations, foundations, churches, and community groups in collaborating to serve this vulnerable population.
News Desk is the editorial publishing account for Tringlobe Media News, covering breaking news, public affairs, entertainment, community developments and regional stories across Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and internationally.
