Cancún is on track to open its first municipal shelter dedicated to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction in the first week of March 2026, according to an announcement by Mayor Ana Paty Peralta on February 21, 2026.
The shelter, named “Para Transformar Vidas” (To Transform Lives), is located in Superblock 228 and is currently 98 percent complete, Peralta stated during a site visit. The project represents a significant step for Cancún, as it will be the first municipal-run facility of its kind in the city.
“For the first time in history, Cancún will have a shelter like this run by the Municipality. In this space, we will give many people a second chance at life,” Peralta said.
The facility will have the capacity to house 50 individuals and will offer a range of services, including medical and psychological care, addiction rehabilitation therapy, and recreational activities. Specific features include a reception area, medical consultation room, psychological support space, a multipurpose area, a kitchen and dining room, bathrooms, sleeping quarters, and recreational areas.
Alberto Ortuño Báez, director of the Municipal Institute Against Addictions (IMCA), explained that the shelter is designed to guarantee access to medical services, food, and hygiene, as well as to prevent social marginalization, violence, and discrimination. He added that the program aims to offer a concrete alternative to combat poverty and inequality and improve the perception of safety and urban image within Cancún.
“We are convinced that addressing the root causes of vulnerability is the best way to transform our city,” Peralta concluded. “This shelter represents a firm step towards a more just, supportive, and humane community.”
The announcement of the shelter’s impending opening follows an initial announcement of the program on November 24, 2024, by the Benito Juárez City Council, according to municipal records.
