[Seoul District News] Choi Ho-gwon, Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor, Conducts On-site Inspection of Heatwave Measures and Quarantine at Homeless Welfare Facilities and Ssokbang Areas on the 19th; Strengthens Patrols of Street Counseling Teams, Operates Heat Relief Centers, Expands Mobile Bathing Services
Special Protection Measures for Homeless and Ssokbang Residents Against Heatwave Until September 30... Eunpyeong-gu Supports 1,280 Low-income Elderly Single-person Households with Punggi Ingyun Blankets and Fans... Mapo-gu Signed Safety Accommodation MOU with H Avenue Hotel near Ewha Station on the 15th; Heatwave Warning in Effect Until August 31
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The scorching heat continues day after day. Special attention is needed for the health and safety of residents living in small rooms and homeless people on the streets, who are particularly vulnerable to heatwaves.
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) is implementing strengthened special summer protection measures until September to ensure a safe summer for small room residents and support the independence of homeless people on the streets.
First, the district has expanded the street counseling team to operate 24 hours and conducts more than 30 focused patrols daily around homeless-dense areas such as Yeongdeungpo Station and nearby parks. During late-night hours, when various risks are more likely, the number of staff is increased to strengthen patrol activities and thoroughly prevent safety accidents.
In addition, a joint public-private street outreach is conducted twice a week to listen to the difficulties of homeless people and provide customized protection such as emergency support, facility admission, and hospital admission through counseling.
Six cooling and shower facilities called "Heatwave Shelters" are also operated. The extended shelter at Hae-sal Bogeumjari and Yeongdeungpo Small Room Counseling Center is open until August, while shelters at Bohyeon Comprehensive Support Center and Ongdalsaem Drop-in Center are open 24 hours until September, allowing anyone to rest and escape the heat anytime.
Moreover, the district actively protects vulnerable groups by providing ice water, expanding mobile bathing services, and visiting and managing health-vulnerable individuals to prevent heat-related illnesses during summer.
On the 19th, an inspection was conducted on the implementation of the special protection measures. Mayor Choi Ho-kwon personally visited the sites to check the operation of heatwave shelters and mobile bathing vehicles, the heat safety of homeless job project participants, and quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Mayor Choi encouraged the efforts of workers at homeless welfare facilities and the Yeongdeungpo Small Room Counseling Center, requested the creation of a safe job participation environment for homeless people and detailed measures for small room area maintenance, and pledged to work harder to support and protect vulnerable residents. (Photo)
The district plans to closely cooperate with Seoul City to enable small room residents to have one meal worth 8,000 won daily at the "Donghaeng Restaurant" and support air conditioner installation and monthly electricity bills of about 50,000 won, promoting companionship with socially vulnerable groups.
Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, "We will do our best to implement protection measures with related organizations such as Seoul City, police stations, and small room counseling centers so that homeless people and small room residents can have a safe and healthy summer during the heatwave period."
Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it will provide cooling supplies to low-income elderly living alone in preparation for the prolonged summer heatwave.
As the heatwave continues day after day, this measure aims to protect elderly people living in old houses, semi-basements, and rooftop rooms vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. The support targets 1,280 low-income elderly living alone, including basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups.
To provide practical help, a preference survey for cooling supplies was conducted for 656 elderly people through care institutions. The survey results showed that the most preferred item was "summer blankets" with 451 votes (69%), followed by "electric fans" with 205 votes (31%). These two highly preferred products were selected as support items.
First, since the 12th, the district has delivered summer blankets made of Punggi rayon to 800 low-income elderly living alone through local elderly care institutions. Care institution life support workers visited elderly households directly to deliver the supplies.
From the 21st, electric fans will be distributed. The district plans to provide fans to 480 elderly living alone through community service centers and local elderly care institutions.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, "I hope this will help elderly people living alone to prevent heat-related illnesses and maintain a healthy daily life during the scorching heat."
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kang-soo) has stepped forward to ensure everyone has a healthy summer.
On the 15th, the district signed a business agreement with H Avenue Hotel (CEO Hong Jeong-sik) to provide up to nine rooms daily as safe accommodations for heatwave shelters until August 31.
This is to allow elderly people vulnerable to heat-related illnesses to comfortably stay overnight and escape the heat.
Safe accommodations can be used during heatwave warnings within the period and are available free of charge from 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. the next day. One room per household is the principle, and up to two people per household can stay.
The target users are low-income households with single elderly aged 65 or older, elderly couples, and other housing-vulnerable groups.
Applications can be made by the individual or family visiting or calling the local community service center, and proxy applications are possible through recommendations by visiting nurses or related personnel.
For more details, contact the Mapo-gu Office's Elderly and Disabled Division or the local community service center.
Additionally, the district operates heatwave shelters (general shelters and extended shelters) throughout the area in preparation for the heatwave.
Heatwave shelters operating from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays are open to anyone, including vulnerable groups, and are located in 16 community service centers, 3 senior welfare centers, and 155 senior centers across Mapo-gu, totaling 174 locations.
During heatwave warnings, 17 senior centers are designated as extended shelters and operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Park Kang-soo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "I hope elderly people struggling with the heatwave can come to safe accommodations to escape the heat even for a short time. We will do our best to carefully care for vulnerable residents during the heatwave."
Guro-gu (District Mayor Moon Heon-il) is launching a housing security device support project for low-income vulnerable groups.
On the 20th, Guro-gu announced, "To alleviate the psychological anxiety of vulnerable groups exposed to crime due to poor housing conditions and to create a safe housing environment, we will support the installation of security devices on entrance doors."
This support project is funded with 10 million won of city funds secured through citizen participation budgeting in January this year.
The support includes replacing door locks or installing locking devices, with a maximum support limit of 250,000 won per household.
The target beneficiaries are about 40 households living in houses under the Housing Act who are basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, or those with less than 60% of the median income.
Those wishing to participate can apply at the local community service center by August 5. Detailed information is available in the news section of the district office website.
After conducting a demand survey, the district plans to select beneficiary households by district through on-site investigations considering housing type and safety vulnerability.
A Guro-gu official said, "We expect this support project to improve the housing environment of vulnerable groups and secure housing safety. We will continue to do our best to make Guro a safe district."
All employees of Jungnang-gu (District Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) will engage in life-saving activities to care for the weary minds of residents.
The district announced that it conducted suicide prevention life-saving training for all employees to build a resident-centered safety net protecting residents experiencing psychological difficulties. The frontline public officials who meet and communicate with residents daily will develop professional capabilities to act as life savers protecting residents.
The training was designed to acquire knowledge to assess the risk levels of depression and suicide and to learn attitudes and skills to respond accordingly. When residents at psychological risk are identified, they will be guided and connected to customized services such as high-risk management programs at mental health welfare centers or counseling at medical institutions.
The district conducted the first training on the 19th and plans the second training on the 21st, with all employees participating.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, "To protect residents feeling depressed due to COVID blues and other reasons, all employees will work to build a safety net. We will continue to do our best to protect the precious lives of residents and create an environment where they can live healthier lives."
The district is promoting various projects to care for residents' mental health. It operates the "Todak Todak Mental Health Counseling Center," a place where residents can open their hearts, and pursues life-cycle customized mental health projects and psychological support programs to improve residents' mental health.
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