HOMELESS INTERVENTION
SPYM is the largest shelter provider for the homeless in the NCT of Delhi. With over 35 years of experience working with marginalized communities in Delhi, SPYM has been mandated to manage over 65-night shelters for the homeless by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. Shelters for the homeless in the Central, South, and SouthWest Districts of Delhi provide services to meet the everyday needs of approximately 5500-6000 homeless children, women, men, and senior citizens.
- Access to food, clothing, bedding, medical facilities.
- Enrollment in schools and provision of non-formal education.
- Extracurricular activities like dance, drama, art, martial arts etc.
- Vocational training courses for adult family members
- Shoes, bags, books, and hygiene kits distributed among children enrolled in schools at shelters for the homeless.
The above services are provided at the homeless shelters managed by SPYM in Munirka, Bikhaji Cama, Modi Mill, Coolie Camp at Vasant Vihar, Sant Nagar, Nehru Place, Sarai Kale Khan, Nizamuddin, Urdu Park, and Jama Masjid. Basic facilities including shelter, bedding, and sanitation support are provided by the DUSIB, Govt. Of NCT of Delhi and SPYM.
HOMELESS SHELTERS MANAGED BY SPYM
SPYM, in partnership with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), has been working in 5 districts including South, South East, South West, Central, and New Delhi.
A total of 57 DUSIB shelters are managed by SPYM in the abovementioned districts. About 3,000 homeless and marginalized people are served at the above-mentioned shelters managed by SPYM.
#AbBhikshaNahinShiksha
Campaign was formally launched by Shri Sanjay Beniwal, Spl. Commissioner, Delhi Police and Ms. Radhika Chakravarthy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India at SPYM, Munirka shelter on March 04, 2022 and now extended to Vasant Vihar Coolie Camp, Modi Mill, Bhikaji Cama Place, Nehru place & Lodhi Road Vicinity. The objective of the proposed project is to set up a demonstrative project in various locations of Delhi which aims to reduce beggary, increase awareness about their rights and entitlements, and enable them to seek their rights.
campaign has been launched to mobilize & rehabilitate children and families involved in the act of begging. With the CSR support of CONCOR (Container Corporation of India Ltd.), and DLF Foundation SPYM has mobilized more than 450 children & Young Women.
HOMELESS WOMENS’ COLLECTIVE
845
Women have been mobilized in the year 2022-2023.
264
Enrollment of election cards.
258
Enrollment of Aadhar cards.
44
Enrollment of ration cards.
26
Enrollment of pension cards.
We have had a firsthand experience among the collective members that there is a natural leadership that exists in abundance, however, there is a need to organize and bring this scattered strength of homeless women together which is also sought to be accomplished through this collective. Approximately 1000 women get enrolled as the collective members every year since its inception in 2018.
WINTER RESCUE
Extreme weather during winter further adds to the vulnerabilities & trauma for those spending nights on the streets without any shelter, care & protection. Homeless may often be seen sleeping on pavements, at bus stops, under flyovers, and parks. In absence of aid, they often shiver to death. SPYM conducts rescue operations throughout the year; intensifying operations during the winter season to ensure that none of the urban homeless dies struggling with cold weather in the vicinity of night shelters. As part of the rescue drive, SPYM has four rescue vehicles operational to attend to SOS calls and assist in the rescue process.
32,868
Homeless community members were reached and rescued by SPYM in the financial year 2022-2023.
WINTER RESCUE
Extreme weather during winter further adds to the vulnerabilities & trauma for those spending nights on the streets without any shelter, care & protection. Homeless may often be seen sleeping on pavements, at bus stops, under flyovers, and parks. In absence of aid, they often shiver to death. SPYM conducts rescue operations throughout the year; intensifying operations during the winter season to ensure that none of the urban homeless dies struggling with cold weather in the vicinity of night shelters. As part of the rescue drive, SPYM has four rescue vehicles operational to attend to SOS calls and assist in the rescue process.
32,868
Homeless community members were reached and rescued by SPYM in the financial year 2022-2023.
RECOVERY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS
As of now, SPYM operates two centers. The first center is located at Sarai Kale Khan for the homeless. The second center is the Women’s Recovery Shelter for the Mentally Challenged in Kharian Mohalla, Roshanara Road. Both these centers combined have 70-bed facilities exclusively for the Homeless in their recuperation stage.
Most patients in recovery need a clean, caring, and supportive environment to ensure a successful recovery. Recovery shelters provide all the necessary support and care to their patients, including basic setup, equipment, and health personnel (Trained Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and Health Care Assistants that ensure the client’s recovery. Apart from hospital beds, the recovery shelter includes wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc.
RECOVERY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS
As of now, SPYM operates two centers. The first center is located at Sarai Kale Khan for the homeless. The second center is the Women’s Recovery Shelter for the Mentally Challenged in Kharian Mohalla, Roshanara Road. Both these centers combined have 70-bed facilities exclusively for the Homeless in their recuperation stage.
Most patients in recovery need a clean, caring, and supportive environment to ensure a successful recovery. Recovery shelters provide all the necessary support and care to their patients, including basic setup, equipment, and health personnel (Trained Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and Health Care Assistants that ensure the client’s recovery. Apart from hospital beds, the recovery shelter includes wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc.
ACTIVITIES
- Motivating and shifting homeless from streets/ pavements to the nearest night shelter.
- Providing first aid and other need based medical intervention (hospital admissions, Drug treatment)
- Ensuring provision of adequate clean blankets, durries and jute mattresses for all night shelter dwellers and providing immediate relief to homeless spending night on streets.
- Coordinating rescue service in coordination with the related help lines of the city such as Police Control Room, Child Help Line etc.