Corporation to set up three family shelters for city’s homeless

According to a Corporation official, the civic body-owned unused buildings in Egmore, Broadway and Teynampet were identified to convert them into night shelters specifically for homeless families. This is the first time civic body has come up with an idea of operating separate night shelters.

The government is operating separate shelters for women, men, children and transgender persons. However, under this, those opting to stay at these night shelters would have to stay away from their respective families. “If we accommodate all the family members in one location, many would come forward to stay in night shelters,” the official explained.

The decision to set up night shelters for families emerged after a recent survey during which many roadside dwellers refused to accept the shelters that Chennai Corporation was providing them. “To attract more roadside dwellers towards the night shelters, we have to provide what they expect. As the number of homeless persons in Egmore, Broadway and Teynampet is more, we are launching family shelters at these locations. Many stay at these locations because they had found some livelihood there,” the official said.

The recent survey suggests that there are 9,087 homeless persons who stay on the road margins. Presently, the Chennai Corporation is operating 47 night shelters with the help of NGOs, while works for four night shelters are completed. Apart from this, three family shelters and five regular shelters would be opened in places where homeless people are higher in number.

Meanwhile, the civic officials are planning to conduct awareness programmes at 11 locations, including Koyambedu, T Nagar, Egmore and Chennai Central railway station on World Homeless Day falling on October 10.

During a recent night check-up at Marina and Elliot’s beaches, the Chennai Corporation officials identified 25 roadside dwellers and moved them to night shelters. “We identified nearly 50 homeless people on the beach and tried to bring them to night shelters on Friday (September 28). Many of them refused to come and only 25 of them agreed to stay in shelters,” the officials said. Due to the difficulties in identifying homeless people in the night, the civic officials have decided to conduct such drives early in the mornings.