Some cheer for the homeless nationwide

There was a silver lining when people living on the streets of Bangkok showed up for an event marking Homeless Day yesterday.

The bright note was not the free food or new clothes that were handed out, but a recently approved law that is set to take effect within the next few weeks.  

“It is a tool to ease obstacles in the delivery of help,” Issarachon Foundation secretary-general Natee Saravari said about the new legislation. 

Last week, the National Legislative Assembly passed the Protection of the Helpless Act in hope to creating better lives for the underprivileged including the homeless. 

Issarachon Foundation has long worked for people living in public space, extending much-needed help to as many homeless people as possible. 

According to a survey it conducted, about 3,000 people lived on the streets of Bangkok last year. While strict measures imposed under martial law, which is still in force, have pushed the homeless away from Sanam Luang, the foundation has found that the number of people living in public has not really fallen. These people have just moved to small sois elsewhere. 

In fact, ongoing surveys by the foundation suggest that the number of people living in public space has soared by about 10 per cent this year. 

The new homeless include Alzheimer’s disease patients, Indians, Myanmar nationals, Cambodians, and Chinese people. 

“We believe the new law is going to facilitate the delivery of tangible assistance to the homeless and ensure their human dignity,” Natee said. 

He said when the act takes effect, it would be possible for a private organisation to run shelters for the homeless using subsidies from the government, local administrative organisations, temples and non-profit bodies. 

“Through the act, a committee will be established to protect the helpless. Committee members will come from both the government and the private sector. If any abuse of the helpless or the homeless takes place, complaints can be lodged with this committee,” Natee said. 

Living on Bangkok’s streets for 17 years, Suchart Mingmuang has no idea what the act is supposed to do at this point. But he appeared happy when he received a pushcart at the Homeless Day event yesterday. 

Held at the Din Daeng pier, Homeless Day event has been observed in Bangkok for two consecutive years already as the Issarachon Foundation and Social Welfare and Development Department’s Ban Mit Maitree shelter strive to help the needy. 

“This pushcart may help me find a new means of livelihood. Perhaps, I will be able to sell beverages for a living,” Suchart said. 

A Ban Mit Maitree official said their office could hand out five pushcarts this year, using money from donors. 

“If we can raise more funds, we will hand out more,” she said.