Homeless Experience Participants Support Homeless People’s Self-Sufficiency

Seongdong-gu Forms Patrol Team of 5 Self-Support Participants with Homeless Experience for Special Winter Protection of Homeless... 3 Patrols Daily, Individual In-Depth Counseling, and Facility Admission Recommendations... Smooth Welfare Services Including Facility and Hospital Admissions Through Cooperation with Local Organizations

Having a conversation with a homeless person.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is gaining attention for conducting special winter shelter protection activities using self-support participants with homeless experience.

Since November 15th until March 15th next year, the district is operating the "Homeless Caregiver Project" to prepare for emergencies involving homeless people during the winter when temperatures drop sharply, encouraging continuous facility admission.

This project is attracting attention as five self-support project participants with experience of admission to homeless facilities are serving as caregivers. They patrol three times daily?morning, afternoon, and night?conducting individual in-depth counseling with homeless people and encouraging them to enter facilities.

Since the project started in mid-last month, three homeless individuals have ended their homeless life by moving into facilities, hospital admission, or relocating to goshiwon (small lodging rooms).

A district official stated, "Currently, there are a total of eight homeless people on the streets of Seongdong-gu, and including those who move between other areas due to the nature of street homelessness, the number is about 13. Participants with homeless experience are moving the hearts of homeless people based on their own experiences, so we expect more people to be able to go to safe places in the future."

Additionally, the district is collaborating with local homeless facilities, Seongdong Hope Food Sharing Center, and Seongdong Police Station to provide comprehensive welfare support for street homeless people. Information is shared frequently among institutions to establish a nonstop support system that can immediately respond to emergencies at each institution. Customized welfare services such as facility admission and hospitalization management, as well as various sponsorship supplies, are provided promptly.

Kim (in his 50s, Yongdap-dong), a self-support project participant, said, "Since I also have experience with street homelessness and facilities, I understand the minds of homeless people better than anyone else, so we communicate well. Although most refuse facility admission, I want to keep persuading them so they can escape homelessness and have opportunities to work like me."

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jung Won-oh said, "As winter deepens and the COVID-19 situation worsens, the safety of homeless people left on the streets is more important than anything else. We will do our best to prepare various measures and seek active cooperation for their stable lives."

Delivering supplies to homeless people.

Meanwhile, to establish a foundation for homeless people's independence, Seongdong-gu has also selected five homeless facility residents since March and formed the "Thumbs Up Disinfection Task Force" as a self-support specialized project, conducting regular disinfection over 850 times at 80 social welfare facilities and other locations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.