Fourteen buildings, in parts of north and south Trinidad, have been identified as shelters for street dwellers.The announcement was made yesterday by Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development Lincoln Douglas.Douglas was speaking at the ministry's Stakeholder Consultation on Street Dwelling at the Chancellor Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann's.He said the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, had identified buildings in Port-of-Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas and Arima.The minister said the identification and use of these buildings were a part of a short-term strategy to eliminate street dwelling.He said these buildings would work to house street dwellers during their rehabilitation process.He said the ministry's aim was to remove a minimum of 100 street dwellers by year's end.
Douglas said the Local Government Ministry had committed to working with stakeholders, including the relevant ministries, to provide items needed in the buildings.He said the Ministry of Housing and Environment had agreed to provide 14 contractors to ensure the buildings were liveable and provide any additional infrastructural work.Douglas said his ministry would be responsible for the operation and management of each facility.He said a street dwelling task force had been mandated to create a long-term plan, including the development of legal and inter-ministerial policies.The minister also called on all non-governmental organisations and citizens to help the ministry achieve long-term goals to rid the nation of street dwelling.