IPOH: The Red Crescent Society hall here will be turned into a temporary shelter for the homeless during the national lockdown.
Perak social welfare committee chairman Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin said the temporary shelter can accommodate up to 40 people and is expected to start in the first week of June.
“The main aim is to prevent a cluster among the homeless, giving them better protection and healthcare, and improving their way of life.
“As we protect them, we will also protect ourselves, ” she said after a briefing at the hall on Sunday (May 30).
“We will also relocate some of them according to their background and skills, ” she added.
A similar shelter was previously set up at the Badminton Arena during the movement control order last year, where some 87 people were brought in.
Dr Wan Norashikin said the shelter will be coordinated by the Kinta district office with the collaboration of several governmental agencies.
“We are also adopting a smart partnership concept where we also work with five non-governmental organisations due to manpower issues.
“The NGO will help the Welfare Department with the food, ” she said.
Dr Wan Norashikin said the homeless will be given a health check before being allowed to stay at the shelter.
“We will also arrange for those tested negative to get vaccination, ” she said.
“If the need arises, we also have several welfare homes as backup, ” she added.
