SIBU, April 5: Works to renovate the former Maksak House at Jalan Sanyan here into a transit centre for the homeless will be completed on August 15.
When completed, it can accommodate up to 40 persons of 20 men and 20 women at one time.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah who made a site visit of the project today, said the renovation work costs RM457,000 while another RM228,000 is needed for the operating cost.
“The management of the centre will be handled by an NGO group, Shan Xin Malaysia, Sibu chapter that is appointed by the Sarawak Homeless Management Committee,” she said.
Fatimah said it would provide a temporary shelter for  the homeless in Sibu, Mukah, Sarikei  and Kapit where they could bath, have meals and sleep at night time. During day time, they are free to go out.
“It is equipped with counselling room, a multi-purpose hall, a kitchen and a dining area. By having this place, we want to ensure that the homeless have decent meals and a place to sleep,” she said.
A car washing shop will be set up for the able-bodied homeless to earn an income.
“At the end of the day, we want them to live a life with dignity, have self value and respected by the society,” she said.
Additionally, the poor, she said could come to the centre for food as a Soup Kitchen would also be set up.
As for the food, she said NGOs and religious bodies would provide them for the homeless.
The ministry had in 2020, identified 41 homeless in Sibu and during Movement Control Order in March last year, six of them were placed in a government rest house in Jalan Awang Ramli Amit.
Separately, she said a proposal has been made to turn Sri Rejang Rest House into a place for victims of domestic violence where an integrated social intervention support services would be provided for them. — DayakDaily
