Ministry steps up street outreach to reintegrate vulnerable people

Fiji's Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection is intensifying its outreach to individuals living on the streets across urban centers. Minister Sashi Kiran emphasized that the initiative aims to address the root causes of homelessness, such as family neglect and addiction, rather than simply clearing public spaces.

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The focus is not simply on removing people from public spaces, but on addressing the underlying issues that lead them to the streets, including family breakdown, neglect, addiction and other complex social challenges.

Recent operations in cities like Suva, Lautoka, and Nadi have involved multiple agencies, including municipal councils, police, and health services. In Lautoka, a profiling exercise identified 56 individuals, leading to assistance for senior citizens, including placement in aged-care facilities, and the transfer of 12 youths to care facilities. The data revealed that a significant majority of those profiled were young people aged 15 to 35, highlighting a critical need for family support and opportunities.

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Around 75 percent of those profiled in Lautoka were young people between 15 and 35 years old, highlighting the need for stronger family support, education, rehabilitation, skills training and employment opportunities.

The ministry is also focusing on children found in vulnerable street situations. Nine boys, primarily teenagers, are receiving support at the Kauwai Restoration Home, with efforts underway to enroll them in school or vocational training. Minister Kiran stated that these children are treated as needing care and protection, not as offenders. The ministry provides shelter, food, and clothing while conducting assessments and case management.

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Children found on the streets are treated as children in need of care and protection, rather than offenders.

Reuniting children with their families is a priority when safe and in the child's best interest. The ministry's support extends beyond temporary accommodation, encompassing family mediation, counseling, education, and rehabilitation programs. Additionally, 28 young men have completed a police-led training program focused on life skills and employment pathways. The ministry is also strengthening rehabilitation services through partnerships with facilities like the Na Salavou drug rehabilitation center and the Salvation Army's Kauwai Restoration Home, aiming for long-term reintegration rather than just street clearance.

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Preventing people from returning to the streets requires more than temporary accommodation.