Protecting the Homeless During COVID-19 Crisis
In Belize City, one of the efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus involves the vulnerable homeless population. A number of agencies are collaborating and have picked up and placed homeless individuals at the MCC Grounds, where aside from shelter, they are provided with three meals a day. So far, the plan is to keep them there during the duration of the state of emergency. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
As the crisis of the novel coronavirus threatens the country, the older population as well as persons who have chronic diseases and those with low immune systems are most at risk. Another vulnerable group are the homeless who are often times seen roaming around the streets. But for a few days now, those persons have been accessing the MCC Grounds where a safe space has been created for them.
Joyce Ellis
Joyce Ellis, Administrator, Welcome Resource Centre
“We had several meetings to see how we could strategize and get the population that we serve in a safe place. We were working on it and we brought it to fruition on Saturday. For the population that we serve, yes they are vulnerable and we know that people sometimes shun them, hence the reason why we went over and beyond our ways to make sure that the population that we serve are not being rejected and then left out in the cold. We can’t force them to stay; if they want to leave, then they just leave. But we try and talk to them and say you are putting yourself in danger. We talk to them about the issue with the law, if they are charged, what would happen and things like that. We try to get them to know what is going on and for the most part, we have resistance with a few, but the others are right there relaxing.”
It’s the result of a collaborative effort with the Salvation Army, the Belize Red Cross, the Ministries of Health and Human Development, the Belize City Council, NEMO, the Police Department and the National Sport Council. Discussions began as early as three weeks ago and each organization is providing a level of support.
Joyce Ellis
“The group itself found the space and the Red Cross provided us with some mattresses and blankets and the personal hygiene stuff. Human Development and the Resource Centre are responsible for the food. Ministry of Health does the daily check-in with the occupants at the shelter and then we also have the Belize City Council who assists us in getting the police to do their hourly checks. And NEMO also help provide some cleaning items for the participants to keep their area clean.”
About seventeen persons, all men, are being held at the facility. Administrator at the Welcome Resource Centre, Joyce Ellis says that with the limited resource that’s available, accommodations are being made to these men, who are all battling mental health issues. Ellis says that there are over a hundred homeless persons; many of them are victims of substance addiction.
Joyce Ellis
“Before this, we were giving out packages to our population because we do have some who have home, but the problem is that they have homes, but no one to take care of them. They have homes, but we are the ones who support them. Yesterday, we gave out nineteen home packages for those who can stay at home and then at the shelter we have between fifteen and seventeen daily that we work with. Over this weekend, we had organizations who pledged to do their food for them. It is what we could do with the little resources that we have collectively.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
