Concerns have been raised with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection on what it has been doing in relation to the elderly disabled street dwellers who are clearly struggling on the streets.
During the cold nights, an elderly disabled man has been seen sleeping outside BSP Samabula Branch and an elderly disabled woman has been sleeping on the wheelchair on Marks Street and surrounding areas.
After questioning the Ministry of Social Protection on the 30th of May on what is being done, the Ministry responded earlier this week saying Social Welfare officers from the Ministry have visited the man and the elderly woman and confirm that they are both clients of the Ministry’s Social Protection Scheme where they receive the monthly Disability Allowance.
They say both, in two previous occasions, had been placed in Samabula Golden Age Home and St Vincent De Paul but walked out on both occasions.
The Ministry says they respect their decision to leave the aged care facilities since they cannot enforce confinement of our street dwellers.
It adds that for the man, his older brother residing in Sukanaivalu Road, Nabua, has also been approached by the Welfare officers to discuss and resolve the issue however they are not willing to accommodate him.
The Ministry says the elderly disabled man spends the day at Albert Park and sleeps in front of the BSP ATM Samabula as he feels comfortable there with the cameras monitoring him.
He advised the Welfare Officer last week to place him back at the St. Vincent Home.
[Image: Barbara Malimali/facebook]
In terms night shelter, the Ministry says it works closely with Ark of Hope (Hanisi Ministries) and Vincent Home to provide them with shelter and the choice is given to street dwellers to be accommodated in either of these faith-based institutions.
They say as in any other institution, there are a set of rules that the residents have to adhere to for the safety of other residents seeking shelter.
The Ministry says with the assistance of organisations like Vodafone and Leadership Fiji, they have been provided with sleeping bags and dignity kits to those that are accommodated at the shelter.
They say despite all these efforts, they have individuals who still prefer to find their own accommodation.
The Ministry says as stated previously, all street dwellers have been given the option of accommodation but chose to stay on the streets.
The plan is to rehabilitate them first in a separate facility before they are admitted under state home.
They say there are few street dwellers that the Ministry has accommodated at the Golden Age Home, however they returned to the streets for freedom to do what they want.
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