THE UPTOWN business district of New Kingston has taken on an ugly face of
homeless children and adults, some of them substance abusers,
begging and roaming the streets.
Working with Bellevue Hospital's health team, the New Kingston Civic Association developed an outreach programme, managed by a case worker, for the homeless persons in the area.
Rachael Gore, New Kingston Civic Association's general manager, said that the Association received sponsorship from members of the business district and the programme started last October. About 60 persons have already been treated under the programme.
"Part of the programme is an assertive outreach programme... the case worker does outreach sessions, three times per week, assessing and identifying the persons on the streets who need mental health care and upkeep," Ms. Gore said.
She said that the Association works closely with Bellevue Hospital and homeless persons are sometimes transported to there for further assessment in terms of medication and mental health and mental well-being.
"They are given medication, change of clothes, hair cleaned, nail clipped, given meals, those who have to stay on, they do stay on. It is a particular problem but the glitch is accommodation," Ms. Gore said.
However, she said that most of the homeless persons in New Kingston are not resident there but are migratory, travelling to and from areas such as Liguanea, Half-Way-Tree and downtown Kingston. Because of the large number of substance abusers among the homeless persons in New Kingston, Ms. Gore said that the Association also works closely with agencies such as Patricia House.
The next stage of the programme is the development of a drop-in centre.
"We can't take anybody off the street, we would be breaking the law, but we can treat them,"
Ms. Gore said.
