600 homeless to be taken off streets by August

Port-of-Spain: Minister of the People and Social Development, Dr Glenn Ramadarsingh says that by August he expects to remove 600 of the 1200 street dwellers on record.

The Port-of-Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing is also proposing plans for a move along programme, following meetings with various faith base organisations, NGO's and regional corporations.

A voluntary programme was launch where 33 street dwellers were taken off the street and are currently being housed at Vision on a Mission but with the 1200 street dwellers recorded, the minister says that he expects in the next couple months to see a 50 percent decrease.

The minister and the task force to deal with street dwellers are also proposing a new faciltiy in East Trinidad where those who volunteer to come in can get a holistic rehabilitation and skiils for job opportunities.

Minister Ramdharsingh says that the Cabinet is pursing legislation to give them the powers to remove street dwellers from the street.