Dongdaemun-gu Mobilizes Special Protection for Homeless... Admission to Ganaan Shelter

Special Protection for Homeless People on the Streets from Mid-November Last Year During the Cold Wave Comprehensive Measures Period
Twice-Daily Patrols, Hospital and Welfare Service Linkage, Food and Cold Weather Supplies Support, etc.

Appearance After Admission to Homeless Shelter

Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) has been taking special protective measures for homeless people on the streets since mid-November last year as part of the '2023/24 Comprehensive Cold Wave Countermeasures,' carefully ensuring the safety of homeless individuals during the winter season.

The district conducts patrols twice daily around areas such as Cheongnyangni Station and Jeongneungcheon to encourage facility admission and provides connections to hospitals and welfare services. Additionally, the health of homeless people is regularly checked, and food supplies and cold-weather gear are provided.

From December to January, during the intensive patrol period, protective activities were strengthened to prevent hypothermia accidents, including nighttime and holiday patrols of sleeping areas when temperatures fall below -5°C to prevent freezing deaths.

During this special protection period, they successfully admitted Mr. Gong Min (alias, 70), who had been living homeless for 20 years in the Yakryeong Market area of Jegi-dong, to the Canaan Shelter. Despite his previous strong refusal to enter facilities even during harsh winter cold waves, he agreed to admission this time, relieving the dedicated public officials of their worries.

The Canaan Shelter is a facility for homeless people that not only provides meals and sleeping arrangements but also supports emotional care and social rehabilitation programs to help homeless individuals become self-reliant.

The district plans to continue special protection for the health and safety of homeless people until mid-March, when the comprehensive cold wave countermeasures end.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “We have continued patrols and other activities with great attention to ensure a safe winter without accidents,” adding, “We will prepare comprehensive and effective measures to address homelessness so that homeless people can return to society in good health.”

Meanwhile, Dongdaemun-gu conducts patrols twice daily even outside the winter season, encouraging homeless people found on the streets to enter facilities and taking measures such as linking to related facilities or emergency hospitalization if there are issues like alcohol dependence, physical illnesses, or mental disorders.

Homeless person before entering the facility

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