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Temporary virus shelter for homeless

Where else can homeless hide from Covid-19?

Following the global corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak, a lot of countries have announced Restriction of Movement Order as as measure to curb the outbreak. Every citizens are advised to stay at home, but we have forgotten about the homeless. Where can the homeless go at this frightening moment? 

What can the government do to help providing temporary shelter to protect homeless from the outbreak? Perhaps unused public facilities such as college dorms, schools, stadium can be considered to relocate the homeless.

In San Diego, homeless shelter tenants tested for COVID-19. Country leaders have formed a few teams to outreach homeless across the countries, providing them with hygiene items and information on the virus. Learning from western countries whereby homeless service providers have taken immediate action, such as to provide medical street outreach, emergency shelter, day shelter, outreach programs and  case managers. 

Therefore, looking at the number of 1500-2000 homeless people in Malaysia [1], the government need to also take into account to provide temporary shelter for the homeless to help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. There are a few spots in KL areas where the homeless normally take shelter, such as Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kota Raya, Central Market, etc. Hence, after giving them temporary shelter to protect them from the COVID-19 outbreak, where should they return when this situation gets back to normal?

They really need help from the public, though there is already one Pusat Transit Gelandangan in Lorong Medan Tuanku, Jalan Sultan Ismail, but that facilities can only allocate 250 people with bathrooms, toilets, laundry, counselling room, healthcare service and storage place. But, what they really need is an affordable place for them to call a home. Perhaps transit home can be a solution to help the homeless. Therefore, this gives us an idea that transit home should not be only restricted to students, young adults, the homeless should also never be forgotten.

Photo source: Free Malaysia Today

 © 2020 by xin yun.

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