Why Is Gwanak-gu Intensifying Relief Efforts for the Homeless Amid the Cold Wave?

Strengthening Patrol Counseling for Homeless People on the Streets in Preparation for Cold Waves... Protective Measures Including Emergency Relief and Facility Connection... Supporting Social Reintegration of Homeless People Through Continuous Counseling and Relationship Building

Emergency Relief Activities for the Homeless

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Amidst the ongoing severe cold with a cold wave advisory issued, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has stepped up to protect homeless people on the streets.

Since November last year, the district has been establishing and implementing special protection measures for the homeless during the winter cold wave season. Recently, these special measures were reorganized to strengthen patrol counseling in preparation for sudden weather changes, cold waves, and heavy snowfall.

When a cold wave advisory is issued, patrols are conducted in vulnerable areas and during vulnerable times to provide protection activities, and rapid protective measures such as emergency relief and facility linkage are promoted.

For example, on the 2nd, when the temperature dropped to minus 8 degrees Celsius, while counseling Mr. A, who was homeless in Bongcheon-dong, it was confirmed that he was suffering from frostbite and his foot was rotting. He was immediately transported to Boramae Hospital. Due to the COVID-19 situation, emergency hospitalization was difficult, so he waited until late at night and was admitted after many difficulties. Upon discharge, it was decided that he would enter a homeless facility.

The district's efforts to protect the human rights of the homeless also left good examples last year.

In June last year, Mr. B, a homeless man reported in the media as the "Man Living on a Garbage Island," was continuously patrolled and counseled to identify his location. After the broadcast, his family contacted him, and the district persuaded them to help him be hospitalized and receive treatment.

In particular, when entering the hospital, the person in charge accompanied the family to the National Health Insurance Corporation to restore health insurance eligibility and reduce hospital expenses. They also guided the family to receive national support such as basic living security, giving the family, who were worried about hospital bills, a faint hope.

At the end of December last year, when the cold wave was at its peak, Mr. C, who had been homeless in the Dorimcheon underpass for over 20 years, was reintegrated into society. Through continuous persuasion by the person in charge, with whom a bond had already been formed, he was able to enter a safe house provided by the district for families in housing crisis.

Afterward, he re-registered his resident registration and applied for customized basic living security benefits, and was linked to continuous social adaptation activities through integrated case management.

In this process, the district attracted attention by providing one-stop integrated welfare services tailored to the needs of the homeless by utilizing various resources such as welfare planners, integrated case management, and mental health welfare centers.

In this way, the district is making various efforts to ensure the safety and social reintegration of homeless people on the streets. In the new year of 2021, it plans to strengthen protection for homeless people on the streets and contribute to the promotion of their human rights and welfare improvement through continuous patrols and counseling.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, "Warm interest in those spending the cold winter on the streets amid COVID-19 and record cold waves is more necessary than ever," and urged, "If residents find homeless people in need of help, please report them through the Homeless Crisis Response Call."

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