Outcry as city approves controversial homeless plan

What about the city doing what's done in parts of countries like France? The local municipality has a first right to buy a building being offered for sale. It's used whenever a city or town sees a need for public housing. You have your building for sale for x, someone makes an acceptable offer. You then go to the city to see if they'll match the offer. If they do you sell to the city or town. If not, you're building is sold to the private individual. It could work in certain areas of Prague - but who decides where the low income housing will be located? It has to be considered at some point. Regulated rents are finally coming off and many people, especially older people on a low fixed income, won't be able to afford market rents. They should have places to move. It's a shame that the Czech government does not have any kind of subsidy program for building owners to help accommodate the low income population.

The problem with the homeless is as follows:
There are three types of homeless: 1) the squatter types who see their lifestyle as something of an "alternative" and are in their predicament by choice. 2) People who have lost jobs or via divorce who have gotten into the predicament of homelessness not through their own wanting. 3) The mentally ill, alcoholics and substance abusers who cannot take care of themselves by themselves.

The vast majority of the homeless in Prague are of category 3. For these, the myth of "re-qualification" is just that... a myth. Many of these people along with suffering from a whole spectrum of ailments also suffer from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. To just "wash them up" and sit them in front of a computer will never guarantee that they will be able to hold down a job. On the contrary... until their mental illness is somewhat gotten under control, they most likely will never be able to hold down anything resembling a job. This though, can take years. A good friend of mine suffers from schizophrenia, so I know first hand how people act with this illness. For two years she was a walking zombie and if it were not for the fact that she lived with her mother, she would be out on the street. Finally she sought help (a relative called the squad with the white jackets) and she was forcibly put into an asylum where after a year there she came out in a rather better state. The point of this is that for the homeless who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse (the majority), without assistance they will never live a different life than on the street. These people are not capable of taking care of themselves without assistance. Some need to by put in asylums and some in halfway houses that treat mental illness and substance abuse, where they will receive assistance with day to day needs. Until this happens, the homeless problem will not just "disappear"..... to a "far away" homeless camp outside of the city limits.

I'm curious if anyone knows who the homeless are in Prague? Are they immigrants from other countries? I don't understand what is happening in the world...there seems to be a rise in nationalism in which the minorities are subsequently targeted, isolated, and (taken to an extreme) pushed out. This just happened with Mexican immigrants in the US, what is going on?

I read habitact news , they are part of an all cities research project UWIS-H (Urban welfare and Social Welfare strategies involved in homeless research. It is hard to turn someone away from a shelter at -7 degrees and bordering on immoral at -20 degrees. Selling 'The Big Issue' helped many fund a basic bed. Is there a current list of habitual buildings that the city hall pays substantial rent to but has no habitual used? Nadeje seems to offer a realistic caring service that the city should be proud of. Groups of similar altruistic vocational Christian vision need help from those who can influence in the humane and avoid and further political embarrassment.

a totally different approach of dealing with homeless people is being applied in los angeles in the us and london in britain according to the article "architecture of transformation" published last weekend in the financial times

i personally would like to see this approach being implemented by the city council of prague as well.

Thomas- I can see your visit to Terezin also had some negative effects.....

There was to be an allocation of finance to help the under privileged coming directly from E.U. funding. It is quite clear that NGO's and other Christian established organisations working at the cutting face of this problem are best suited in planning and implication. Recent financial performance at city hall would suggest the politicians should not be involved in the project unless invited by experienced NGO's who have practical and vocational track records. It the funding is E.U. funding then it may be worth looking at how other European cities deal with similar problems. Just looking at the problem from one city counsellor; who's proposals swing between callous absurdity and unimaginative humanism may lead to further degenerative embarrassment to those in need in Prague.

A designated night shelter somewhere near the centre of Prague, or get church organisations involved.
Centrepoint - in London - is a good example of what could be achieved, as is The Connection at St Martin in the Fields in London as well as The Passage, near Wesminster Cathedral.
A little more compassion and the realisation that more and more people will die on the streets during the winter months would be a start.
Paris has fewer homeless people now it seems. Reason? They have been "re-located" in the suburbs. A grim way of marginalising the dispossessed and disadvantaged. This is a problem that will not go away, and should not be swept under the carpet.

Comparing this facility to a concentration camp is exaggeration and unhelpful. What people need for reintegration into society is facilities to apply for work and to get smartened up for interviews. If these are provided it seems to me this place will do nothing but good. Disincentives for begging and substance abuse are needed in Prague centre because, like it or not, tourism is a very major industry. The police have to be involved with that; people who say otherwise live on another planet.

Move the "bums" out.

Thomas, the provision made by some 'institutions' makes 'the open road' attractive. Some medication is helpful but some given in high doses offers a 'psychic jail. Without regular doctor check ups then the doctor cant insist another agency care's for the individual. Information from multiple agencies needs to be made avialable and they need to communicate as well. Money; established charities , various projects of care, groups of vocational helpers, they tend to know what is needed; the government is not preferential in helping those who need the most. Many cities have a 'care day' where agencies get together and share multi-agency soloutions. In winter just avoiding a freezing death is a victory.

'sin'

Is there also a proposal that a 'homless star' be worn by those who are registesterd? 'Let ye without cast the first stone' The idea is inhuman, indefensible and its lack of empathy staggering.