Daegu City Urgently Allocates 3 Billion Won for Vulnerable Groups... Support for Elderly, Disabled, and Homeless by Sector

28 New Free Meal Service Centers Opened... Lunchbox Delivery for Ssokbang Residents

The photo shows Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visiting an elderly household living alone in a small room village in Seo-gu, Daegu, on March 13 last year, delivering daily necessities and other items.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Daegu City announced on the 1st that it will invest 3 billion KRW to provide decisive support for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless who are struggling with increasingly difficult lives due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Out of the 3 billion KRW budget, 940 million KRW will be invested in the first phase. The initial funds will be allocated to the elderly sector (590 million KRW), the disabled sector (35 million KRW), and the homeless and residents of small rooms sector (310 million KRW).

First, alternative meals (lunch boxes, bread, rice cakes, etc.) will be provided to low-income vulnerable elderly individuals at risk of food insecurity due to the suspension of free senior meal services caused by the spread of COVID-19.

Since the end of last year, with support from the Daegu Community Chest of Korea, comprehensive social welfare centers (27 locations) and senior welfare centers (19 locations) have been conducting meal and side dish support projects for low-income vulnerable groups and elderly living alone. In addition, alternative meal projects will be implemented at free senior meal service centers (28 locations).

In preparation for the reopening of senior centers, which have been closed since the end of last year, quarantine helpers will also be deployed. These helpers will ensure that senior center users comply with quarantine rules, conduct situation checks, and carry out disinfection activities inside and outside the facilities to protect the health and safety of the elderly.

Regarding the protection of the disabled, risk compensation will be provided to activity support personnel for patients in self-quarantine or hospitalization to prevent avoidance of support activities, thereby minimizing care gaps.

Support for the homeless and residents of small rooms will also be strengthened. Alternative lunch boxes and daily necessities will be provided due to the suspension of free meal services, and income compensation projects such as lunch box delivery and disinfection will be carried out for residents of small rooms who are struggling financially.

Besides the first phase expenditure, the remaining 2 billion KRW budget will be used to support emergency care services and provide additional support for shortages in the first phase projects to protect vulnerable groups facing difficulties amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Park Jae-hong, Director of the Welfare Bureau of Daegu City, stated, "As the COVID-19 situation prolongs, the difficulties of vulnerable groups are deepening. Daegu City will continuously prepare support measures that can closely embrace the lives of vulnerable groups to ensure a welfare gap-free Daegu community."