Shelter for homeless cannot cope with large number of persons in need

The accommodation and orientation center for homeless persons does not have enough places to shelter all the applicants, especially in the cold period. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the center’s deputy head Georgeta Bitca said that up to 70 persons can be now accommodated on a temporary basis, but the number of those who need support is much higher. The 70 places are shared equally between men and women. Under the regulations, shelter is provided to men younger than 62 and woman younger than 57. The elder persons are directed to old people’s homes. The Chisinau City Hall allocated 1.9 million lei to the institution’s fund for purchasing food, drugs and hygiene products. Those who are accommodated are fed two times a day and are given clothes and footwear donated by people. The employees help those who come to the center to restore the identification papers, if need be. In some of the cases, the procedure is difficult because some people do not know even elementary personal data. The homeless persons are advised to go to this center by acquaintances or medical centers and the placement center. Though they sometimes have to sleep by two on one bed, the homeless persons are satisfied with the assistance provided to them. “We have where to stay for the night and have food. During the day, we earn our living as we can, while in the evening we come here because this is our home,” said one of those accommodated. The center is located at 2 Haltei St. The persons can stay at the center for a period of three months if they behave properly and do not commit violations. However, the administration says there are persons in a difficult situation who are allowed to stay at the center for an indefinite period. According to the spokesman for the National Emergency Medicine Center Pentru Cravet, four homeless persons were admitted to the hospital with hypothermia last week.