By Prior Beharry
THE Centre for Social Displaced Persons (CSDP) at Riverside Carpark in Port of Spain is closed.
In a release on Thursday, the Ministry of Social and Family Services stated that the facility was not purpose-built but rather retrofitted to provide the required care services which are critically needed.
It stated, “It was previously determined that this venue is unsuitable as long-term residential accommodation for socially displaced persons are therefore alternative options that have been identified to provide an improved quality of life for the displaced population including street dwellers.
“Within recent times, it has been determined that the venue has outgrown its original purpose, and as a result, it has become necessary to relocate the residents to a more feasible venue. All residents of the centre have been decanted.”
The release stated that in 1991, the Government entered into an arrangement with the St Vincent De Paul Society (the Society) to manage the operations of the CSDP.
However, due to a myriad of challenges, the decision was taken by the ministry to relocate the residents of the CSDP.
It stated that as of June 2022, 90 persons were housed at the facility.
The ministry stated that it successfully relocated 36 persons:
- 11 to the Community Care Programme;
- 7 to Mental Health Long Term Care;
- 5 accepted training opportunities through Vision on Mission;
- 8 persons to Drug Rehabilitation
- One client was reunited with his son;
- One client accepted the Ministry’s Rental Assistance Grant;
- One client is awaiting to be reunited following contact with their relative, and
- Two persons are currently hospitalised and will be placed by the ministry upon discharge.
Additionally, 34 residents have declined placement, some of whom are employed and 20 voluntarily left the CSDP, it stated.
Should individuals and members of the public be interested in further information regarding the care and rehabilitation of street dwellers within their communities or public spaces, the Ministry’s Social Displacement Unit can be contacted at 623-2608 ext. 5701 – 5705, from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm weekly.
