THE Ministry of Social Protection’s Children and Family Centre at Plum Park Sophia is expected to be completed by the end of March.

This was announced by Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, after she visited the location on Thursday.

Minister Ally said that the cost of the centre amounted to $220M, and should have been completed a while ago. However, there were major challenges, including the weather conditions, but with the current pace of the ongoing works, the facility is expected to be finished before April.

“I am here to have a first-hand look as to where we are with the project… This means quite a lot to us because it’s a facility for children, and I am pleased with where we are so far. I think the contractors have done their best and we are proud of the work we have here. It’s just a matter of waiting for its completion,” Ally said.

Giving more insight on the new facility, Director of Child Protection, Ann Greene told the media that the centre will no longer be called a “drop-in centre.”

“We are still looking to find a suitable name for it, but it will no longer be referred to as a “drop-in centre”, for now it’s the Ministry of Social Protection, Children and Family Centre,” she said.

Greene explained that the new facility will make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families, because it caters for more than just providing housing for children from broken homes.

In fact, the centre will provide temporary housing assistance, including daily meals for families, to prevent their children from being taken away from them.

“We will also be preventing unnecessary separation of children. We have a holding centre apartment for families and children, eight family apartments and four apartments for children. Separation of children from their parents will only occur if it is really necessary. If not, if it is a case where we could hold the family together, while we fix whatever vulnerability, they will be housed here at the centre until they can go on their own,” Greene explained.

She also said that family coaching sessions will be held at the centre, so that the parents will be given the opportunity to transition to independence.

“When we put a family here, it is not to stay forever, so we have to transition them to independent living. That’s where the family coaching sessions and transition coaching come in. We are helping you to transition to your own independent living and self-sufficiency,” Greene said.

The requirements for families to be eligible for the housing are still being worked out by the ministry, and the regulations to guide the process as well.

The ministry has never had a centre that housed families before, she said, “So this will really make a big impact to avoid the separation of children from their families.”
Almost three years ago, the former “Drop-in Centre” on Hadfield Street was ravaged by fire, and what was left of the former was renovated and converted to a storage bond.

Minister Ally had explained that after two children lost their lives in the fire in July 2016, the building was deemed unsafe to house vulnerable children as it lacked the required facilities and space.
The children who perished in the fire were six-year-old Joshua George and his two-year-old brother, Antonio.