THE Human Services and Social Security Ministry will be collaborating with the Rotary Club of Georgetown to transform the Night Shelter and will adopt key areas in the institution to improve the lives of the residents.

This was disclosed following a meeting with representatives from the club and Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, on Thursday. At the meeting, support for the elderly, homeless and other vulnerable groups was discussed.

Peter Abdool, the club’s past president; Sheldon Hazelwood, vice-president and Liselle Blankendal, service projects officer, were the club’s representatives at the meeting.
“This partnership will yield major transformation of the institution which acts as a transit point for the homeless, destitute and indigent population who have been abandoned by their families in many cases,” Minister Persaud noted.

On August 18, 2020, the minster toured the shelter and made a promise that she will be “looking at the entire place with a very practical and holistic approach and making the necessary changes sooner rather than later”.

The institution will benefit from several upgrades. These are procurement of additional beds, serving healthy meals, upgrade and installation of new washroom facilities with features for persons who are living with disabilities, and the introduction of programmes and activities such as board games, reading material and television to provide more recreational options for the residents.
Additionally, several programmes will be designed and rolled out to re-integrate able-bodied individuals into society and for them to be gainfully employed.

Dr. Persaud, in a previous press conference, told reporters that the ministry will be reviewing the living conditions, the delivery of services and medical care provided to the residents, while partnering with other agencies to effectively transform the facility.
These measures, the minister noted, will be complemented by a programme, the aim of which will be to reduce the number of persons on the streets and integrate them into the shelter.

Minister Persaud said the public will soon be further informed of this initiative, as well as of plans for the Hugo Chavez Rehabilitation Centre.
Meanwhile, in keeping with the restrictions of the COVID-19 protocol, the minister reported that the shelter is operating at a reduced capacity of about 50 per cent to ensure that residents are protected from the virus.