No official heat protection for the homeless in Mallorca

An oppressive problem without a plan

On a hot July afternoon in Palma the air shimmers above the Passeig del Born, the church bells toll lazily and a faint scent of the sea drifts in from the bay. For many this is a signal to retreat to a cool café or the sea. For others the heat means pure stress: people without permanent housing who sleep on benches, in parks or under bridges have little opportunity to protect themselves. And despite rising heat records, Heatwave reaches 42 °C: How Mallorca should cope with the new temperature peak, Mallorca still lacks an official, binding heat emergency plan for this group.

What has happened so far — and what is missing

The Institute for Social Affairs IMAS distributes water, opens some emergency shelters during the day and works with local aid organisations. That is important — but it remains piecemeal. While automatic procedures kick in for cold or storm warnings, the response to extreme heat appears improvised. This is highlighted in Heat alert on Mallorca: How well is the island prepared for infernal heat days?.

The central problem is the lack of coordination: authorities, social services and NGOs often act in parallel, not networked. On days with 40 degrees rapid — as reported in Nearly 40 °C: Mallorca's Daily Life Under Heat Stress — How the Island Can Respond — centrally coordinated action is necessary — otherwise there is a risk of health damage from dehydration, heatstroke or worsened chronic conditions.

Who is particularly at risk

The homeless are not a homogeneous group. Among them are older people, those with chronic illnesses, people with mental health conditions, migrants without regular access to healthcare — and sometimes families. Many take medication regularly that can increase side effects in heat. At night the warmth prevents restorative sleep; during the day shaded spots are often the only option. Pets also suffer. This layered vulnerability is too rarely considered in current debates.

What is rarely heard

Public discussions often revolve around tourist flows, beach rules or energy consumption. Little visible are the nightly calls in the parks, the rustling under a tarpaulin at the port or the improvised shelters on the outskirts of town. The small, local helpers — volunteer patrols, small soup kitchens, neighbourhood initiatives — are also important actors but receive too little formal support. And: heat does not only hit during the day. Nighttime warmth reduces recovery phases, increases stress and raises susceptibility to illness.

Concrete proposals instead of lip service

There are practical measures the island should start now:

1. Official heat warning plan for vulnerable groups: A tiered alert system (e.g. from 36/38/40 degrees) with clear responsibilities for authorities and NGOs.

2. Mobile cooling and drinking stations: Vans or tents with drinking water, shade, emergency cooling and first aid at known meeting points (Plaza Major, Es Jonquet, sections of the Rambla).

3. Extended daytime opening hours for emergency shelters: Especially on extreme heat days, shelters should be open during the day and staffed with additional personnel.

4. Awareness and training: Volunteers, social workers and hotel staff need training to recognize signs of heat stress and provide first aid.

5. Transport and evacuation logistics: Free transfers for the most vulnerable to air-conditioned facilities, coordinable via a hotline.

6. Long-term solutions: Investments in affordable housing, healthcare and prevention so that people are not left permanently in danger zones.

Who pays — and who acts?

This sounds like an effort — and it is. But the alternative is avoidable emergencies, high healthcare costs and the image of an island that does not stand together in a crisis. Funding options exist: EU climate funds, regional social budgets, partnerships with private donors and hotels that can assume responsibility during the season. Recent warnings about imminent heat peaks such as 40 Degrees This Weekend: Mallorca Faces a Heat Test – What Matters Now underline the urgency. What is important is that politicians now create the framework and that IMAS and local organisations are coordinated in a binding way.

An appeal from everyday life

It does not take much imagination to picture the scene: a volunteer pushing a crate of water bottles through the market in Sant Antoni one afternoon, a paramedic explaining to an older person in Es Jonquet how to adjust medication in the heat. Such moments are compassionate, but not enough. A formal plan would stabilise this help, balance it and provide resources.

The central guiding question remains: do we want to be an island that protects people during heatwaves — or do we accept that summer records will continue to endanger lives? Mallorca has already overcome many challenges. It is time to take heat protection for vulnerable people as seriously as protection from storms or cold.

Quiet but insistent: the bells continue to toll, the air shimmers — and somewhere someone is sitting who tonight would desperately need cool rest.