Panama Creates National Commission for People Living on the Street
PANAMA CITY, July 24, 2026 – Panama created an interinstitutional commission to coordinate rights protection and comprehensive care for people living on the street, following the publication of Executive Decree 11 of July 23, 2026 in the Official Gazette.
The commission is designed as a permanent coordination body for policies, programs and follow-up across municipalities. Its mandate includes attention to human rights, social inclusion, temporary housing, health care, family support, training, education and labor reinsertion.
The issue has viral potential because homelessness is visible in daily life yet often handled through fragmented responses. A national commission signals that the government wants agencies to move from isolated interventions toward a shared plan.
The decree names a broad institutional network, including ministries, Senniaf, Inadeh and municipal governments. The commission may also invite universities, international organizations, business groups, civil society, churches and nonprofits to participate with voice.
The key test will be execution. A commission can bring order to policy, but people on the street and nearby communities will measure success through shelter capacity, mental-health access, outreach frequency and safer public spaces.
Why it matters
The measure turns a visible social problem into a formal national coordination agenda with multiple agencies at the same table.
What happens next
The commission will need to design the national plan, define intervention protocols and coordinate municipal implementation.
