Yeongdeungpo-gu Operates Safe Lodging for Low-Income Seniors

Operation of Safe Lodging for Low-Income Vulnerable Seniors from July to September: Single Room Use per Person from 8 PM to 8 AM on Heatwave Alert Days for Basic Livelihood Security Seniors

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) operates two heatwave safety accommodations to prevent heat-related illnesses among low-income vulnerable elderly and to help them spend a healthy summer in comfortable and cool spaces.

The ongoing heatwaves and tropical nights raise concerns about the health management of elderly people who are particularly vulnerable to the heat.

The district plans to support the use of local lodging facilities for low-income vulnerable elderly when heatwave warnings are issued, aiming to prevent safety accidents caused by heat-related illnesses and to revitalize the lodging industry.

The elderly safety accommodations operated this year are Toyoko Inn Yeongdeungpo (293 Singil-ro) and Hi Seoul Youth Hostel (200 Yeongsin-ro), totaling two locations.

The operation period is from July to September. During this period, on days when a heatwave warning is issued, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day, elderly low-income individuals aged 65 or older who are basic livelihood security recipients or near-poverty class with poor residential environments, or those whom staff deem necessary, can use the accommodations.

Elderly individuals wishing to use the accommodations can apply by visiting or calling their local community service center by noon on the day the warning is issued. The district finalizes the list of users based on the allocation status by neighborhood and handles the collective settlement of accommodation fees after the safety accommodation operation ends.

Once selected as a final user, they should bring the usage voucher issued by their local community service center and an ID to visit the safety accommodation.

One person per room is the principle, but up to two people can stay if they are family members according to the resident registration certificate.

Efforts are also made to manage COVID-19 prevention. Each facility designates a safety accommodation quarantine manager, conducts regular disinfection and sterilization, and manages a health monitoring log of accommodation entrants.

Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, “We will do our best to operate and manage the safety accommodations so that elderly people can spend a comfortable and cool summer without worrying about the heat,” and added, “We hope many vulnerable elderly households interested in using the safety accommodations will apply.”

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