Emaus centres to remain open on emergency contract

THE regional government has pledged that the Emaus centres will not close.

The promise came from the regional vice-president Monica Oltra who recently visited Altea and several Emaus facilities.

The centres for those with different abilities, gender violence victims and children at risk are to remain open and will be run by the Fundacion Salud y Comunidad on an emergency contract.

Emaus began bankruptcy proceedings in May 2015 with debts totally €23 million, but councils in Altea, Alfaz, Polop, Benissa and El Verger – assisted by the charities that have always supported Emaus – fought to prevent their closure.

The Les Boqueres residence for the elderly, a private foundation inside the Emaus network, was excluded from the worrying situation practically from the outset.

A company came forward with an early offer to take over the home and negotiations should be finalised by early August.

Oltra said she was very satisfied with the results of a “long and complicated process” where the municipalities affected by the potential closures worked with the Generalitat’s Equality and Inclusive Policies department to keep the centres open.

The vice-president emphasised that Emaus’s economic situation had not at any time impaired attention for the 126 users at the 10 centres.

Oltra also drew attention to the professionalism of the 134 employees, all of whom were owed several months’ wages at one stage, thanking them for “their infinite patience.”