Prague’s final Covid hotel plan could put homeless people on the streets

NGOs have signed an open letter to the town hall supporting the continuation of a room rental program for the homeless in four hotels and hostels in Prague. This month, he will stop serving amid the coronavirus outbreak. Elika Konvková, an NGO employee for two years, worked there. She said two new shelters might be too small for 60 people.

During the epidemic, these hotels opened. First major organized attempt, I guess. Before the hotels, the town hall was not pro-housing.

“Hotel guests can also benefit from social services. Social workers greet hotel guests. It’s a great way to help homeless people focus on what they want.

Private owners run other homeless shelters, not the city. The second type of housing has exorbitant rents and few social supports.

“These municipal asylums can help, but municipal leaders must ensure an adequate place for everyone.

Since its opening, hundreds of people have stayed in hotels. Dangerous what?

“First, the town hall agreed that homeless accommodation in this form – hotels and hostels originally built for guests but converted to house the homeless – would end in June 2022. Prague has developed two hotel asylums.

“These new centers are understaffed. 60 people could be homeless by the end of the month. Their vulnerability horrifies us. Many have not had time to recover and returning to the streets can be dangerous.

“This initiative showed me how many homeless people got housing. Improved. Labor can be wasted. This program includes social work such as placement and visits to the doctor. The conclusion would be sad.

“Yes. Two years as a social worker in a hotel. I heard incredible stories.

Our hotel only accepts women and trans people, so I met some homeless women. I met 15 year old homeless women. Motel comforted them. They relaxed and improved health.

Living alone on the streets is terrible, these women say. These women gradually healed and refocused. Others needed medical attention or a job.

“71 women recently stayed at our hotel. 34 and 15 women have social and commercial residences. Probably more less apparent things follow. The mental health of these women improves every day because they are safe and stable. No one should be left behind. »

Your group wrote an open letter. The town hall would like some clarification.

“Yes. As you said, we worked with the Salvation Army and Nadeje to improve housing.

At this point, 60 people at risk of returning to the streets need safe accommodation.

I think the Prague City Hall’s approach to the outbreak was excellent and should be built upon.

Talk to the mayor of Prague? Answer?

“We don’t know what will happen. Milena Johnová and Adam Zábransk have been contacted. Not yet.

“They seem receptive, but we don’t know the next moves. Answer please.

“Hotel residents are not safe,” he remarked. They don’t know if the asylums have space if they are moved.

“The town hall should make a statement and provide these tools.”