A report on their conditions and needs will be compiled

The Greater Chennai Corporation will be carrying out a survey to map and determine the needs of the homeless in the city next week. Officials said that they will be enumerating homeless families, transgenders and those with disability.

“We first want to find out their present status and the issues affecting them. Also why certain groups were not using the shelters even when the facilities are available,” said a senior official of the Corporation.

The survey will be conducted on June 3 and 4 by officials from the City Health Department and NGOs working in this field. On the first day, officials have planned to map out all locations of homeless and subsequently enumerate them as per their respective zones, after which they would compile a report on their prevailing conditions and needs.

Second survey in 2 years

This is the second such survey carried out by the Corporation in the last two years. “In the last survey, we found that most homeless were families in need of permanent housing within the city, so they do not lose their livelihood. So we linked them with the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board to help provide housing and the work is in progress. This time, once we get a clear picture on their status, we can chalk out a plan and address their needs, accordingly,” the official said

There are 47 shelters for the homeless functioning now in the city, one of which is the recently opened shelter for transgenders.

Experts, however, pointed out that permanent housing for these communities can be availed of only by special sanctioning as there is no State Urban Housing and Habitat Policy in Tamil Nadu to govern housing pro grammes and ensure that the most vulnerable sections of the urban poor are included in them.

No identity cards

Experts also added that most homeless did not have proper identity proof even if they were to avail themselves of houses under special sanctions.

“We need a State level policy mandating other departments such as social welfare and housing to provide all necessary services to these vulnerable communities and help link them to permanent housing,” said Vanessa Peter, policy researcher, IRCDUC.