What Are Seongdong-gu's Measures to Support Both Homeless People and Single-Person Households?

Seongdong-gu Collects Unused Flowerpots for Homeless Job Participants to Upcycle

On the 27th of this month, unused flowerpots will be collected mainly from public institutions for upcycling and delivered to vulnerable single-person households

Utilizing abandoned flowerpots protects the environment, creates jobs for the homeless, and provides psychological stability to vulnerable single-person households?three benefits with one effort

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is receiving positive evaluations for promoting a project that supports both the homeless and vulnerable single-person households.

On the 27th at 2 p.m., the district will launch the ‘Hope Flowerpot’ project, collecting unused flowerpots from offices and homes, mainly from public institutions.

Institutions that expressed their intention to participate in the event include Seongdong-gu Office, Seongdong Police Station, Seongdong-Gwangjin Office of Education, Seongdong Urban Management Corporation, and local comprehensive social welfare centers.

The flowerpot collection will take place at the outdoor parking lot of Seongdong-gu Office, with designated times for each institution to prevent congestion. The collected flowerpots will be upcycled by homeless job participants trained by horticulture experts and then delivered to vulnerable single-person households and social welfare facilities.

A homeless job participant is learning pot upcycling from a professional horticulturist.

The Hope Flowerpot project in Seongdong-gu utilizes flowerpots left unused in offices. By upcycling flowerpots that were about to be discarded, it leads environmental protection efforts while providing the homeless with opportunities to learn horticultural skills and gain employment. The district expects this to help homeless self-sufficiency and provide companion plants to vulnerable single-person households, contributing to their psychological stability.

Last year, a total of 746 flowerpots were collected, and 500 flowerpots were selected for upcycling. The flowerpots reborn through horticultural work were delivered to 390 vulnerable single-person households and various social welfare institutions.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "The Hope Flowerpot project is a triple-win initiative that considers both the environment and people," and added, "I hope many institutions will take interest and actively participate in donating flowerpots."

The scene of delivering upcycled flowerpots to single-person households in vulnerable groups

‘Dongjak-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired’ Expanded and Relocated…Providing Customized Welfare Services

Warm Together Donates 60 Million Won for Remodeling…Improved Safety and Accessibility

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) is implementing various welfare support projects for the disabled, including the expansion and relocation of the shelter for the visually impaired and a disability awareness improvement campaign, in celebration of the 43rd Disability Day.

First, on the 20th, the district held the opening ceremony for the relocation of the ‘Dongjak-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired’ (133 Sangdo-ro).

About 30 people attended the opening ceremony, including Mayor Park Il-ha and chairpersons of social welfare corporations.

The ‘Dongjak-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired’ provides customized welfare services such as self-help groups and leisure programs for approximately 1,500 visually impaired residents in the area.

To improve safety, convenience, and accessibility for the visually impaired, the district secured a larger space and relocated the shelter from the previous basement level 1 (273 Sangdo-ro) to the 8th floor of the building housing the Dongjak branch office.

In cooperation with the social welfare corporation ‘Warm Together,’ which creates a warm, barrier-free society, the district received a 60 million won donation for remodeling, installing internal convenience facilities for the visually impaired such as soundproof rooms, program rooms, and automatic doors.

This year, starting with the relocation of the shelter for the visually impaired, the district plans to additionally establish shelters for the hearing impaired and physically disabled.

On the 26th, the district will hold disability awareness improvement events including disability experience and photo exhibitions at the district office auditorium in collaboration with the Seoul Association of the Physically Disabled Dongjak Branch.

Mayor Park Il-ha of Dongjak-gu said, “I would like to thank Warm Together once again for their generous support,” and added, “We will promote welfare policies closely connected to daily life so that people with and without disabilities can live happily together in the community.”

“Helping Youth Preparing for Independence Settle in Society”…Eunpyeong-gu Begins Move-in for Independence Preparation Housing on the 24th

‘Nation’s First’ Housing Provides Experience of Living Alone…Practical Support for Independence

Welcome Ceremony Held on the 23rd…Life Education for Residents

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it will begin move-in for the ‘Eunpyeong-type Independence Preparation Housing’ on the 24th, which is the nation’s first housing that allows youth preparing for independence (prospective) to experience living alone.

The ‘Eunpyeong-type Independence Preparation Housing’ is a specialized housing project utilizing purchased rental housing through cooperation between the local government and LH to help youth preparing for independence settle as healthy members of society. It provides youth preparing for independence with the experience of living alone before leaving protective care.

There are a total of four housing units supplied by LH Seoul Regional Headquarters, with Eunpyeong-gu covering the housing deposit, rent, and public management fees. The district also carried out renovation work throughout the housing before move-in to improve the space. Appliances, furniture, and daily necessities were provided to create an environment where residents can live comfortably immediately after moving in.

Youth preparing for independence can prepare for practical independence by experiencing cooking, cleaning, paying public utility bills, and sorting garbage. Eunpyeong-gu and dedicated independence preparation officers will visit regularly once or twice a week to listen to difficulties in daily life and provide continuous support.

Applicants for move-in were recruited from youth preparing for independence residing in local child welfare facilities. Experts in the child welfare field in the community were appointed as judges to conduct in-depth interviews assessing motivation and will for independence, selecting a total of four youth.

On the 23rd at 2 p.m., a welcome ceremony was held to celebrate the experience of living alone with the prospective residents and representatives from local child welfare facilities, along with pre-move-in education for the residents.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “I hope the Independence Preparation Housing will be the first step for youth preparing for independence to create a brilliant future,” and added, “I hope it will be a starting point for youth to gain confidence and become healthy members of society.”