Street dwellers and beggars who are in need of a place to stay can now get shelter at the Saint Vincent de Paul Homes located at Brown Street in Suva after a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and St Vincent de Paul Home.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar says the St Vincent de Paul Home have been contracted for the professional management of the home for this fiscal year for the care for these residents.
She says the home will receive $100,000 under the new Grants to Organisations Assisting Psycho-Social and Street Dwellers for 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Akbar further says everyone has to take responsibility for their vulnerable family members.
She says while the facility may be a halfway home for the immediate solution, it is committed to working with partners including non-government organisations, business partners, faith based organisations and community members to tackle this social issue in our society.
Akbar says the Fijian Government has taken a holistic approach and has been consistent in strengthening social welfare programmes.
The Minister says the Grants to Organisations Assisting Psycho-Social and Street Dwellers, is a new initiative targeted to ensure that every citizen of Fiji has improved access to quality social services and livelihood activities.
