Egypt takes steps to develop care system of homeless individuals

CAIRO – 13 August 2023: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabbaj chaired earlier this week the committee concerned with developing the care system of homeless individuals.

The press statement released Friday by the ministry clarified that the homeless in Egypt are divided into individuals who have no homes; individuals who work in governorates where they do not have homes; individuals who have disagreements with their families and are on the street temporarily; individuals that are mentally ill; and beggars.

The statement noted that the ministry runs 168 retirement houses, 21 retirement houses for the homeless; 51 facilities for rescued children; 435 orphanages; and 43 facilities for homeless children.

Before checking homeless individuals into facilities, they are subjected to medical tests to ensure the absence of contagious illnesses and drug use. Also, their criminal record is obtained as they must not be former convicts.

The problems encountered when dealing with homeless adults are the issuance of identity documents, leaving the facilities and returning to the street where they beg for money and have to abide by no rules, and having mental problems.

The absence of mental health professionals in facilities constitute a threat to the patients themselves and other dwellers. That is why there is cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population to provide support to those who suffer from psychological problems.  

The Ministry of Health and Population expressed readiness to delegate professionals to provide treatment at the facilities, given the limited number of places at public asylums, on the condition that the Ministry of Social Solidarity covers the costs.

On her side, Minister Qabbaj primarily approved that solution saying that she would study whether the funding would be secured through the ministry's budget or through other sources.

As for the Urgent Intervention mechanism, the response rate to reports is 100 percent with the average number of cases per month being 270. The ministry has begun increasing the number of the mechanism's vehicles on streets having large numbers of homeless individuals in a bid to provide the necessary support even if no reports are made.