Night shelters find few takers as homeless prefer to spend night in nail-biting cold

With the minimum temperature dipping to around 9°C in the city, the poor and homeless are often forced to sleep on the roadside. Despite the nail-biting cold, city-run night shelters remain underutilised, largely due to their far-flung locations.

The homeless are mostly seen sleeping around Clock Tower, Guru Nanak Stadium, Durga Mata Mandir, Mata Rani Chowk, Dandi Swami Road, Bhadaur House, Chaura Bazaar and adjoining areas. The sad part is that the night shelter near Clock Tower, which was the most accessible, is lying closed since the past two years after its building was declared unsafe. At present, night shelters at Vishwakarma Chowk, Haibowal and Moti Nagar are operational.

Deepak, who was seen sleeping near Mata Rani Chowk, said he once went to a night shelter at Moti Nagar.

“In the evening, the bus took us to the shelter but in the morning there was no arrangement for bringing us back. I had to spend money to return to my place where I spend my daytime,” he said.

It is observed that the homeless avoid visiting the shelters as they receive blankets and food from philanthropists by the roadsides.

Another homeless person, who was seen having his meals near Durga Mata Mandir, said devotees who visit the place give him blankets and food to eat. Hence, he feels comfortable to stay here only.

“I have no family or relatives. I have been staying here since years. I am old and it is not possible to go to a night shelter every evening. I don’t feel cold now and it’s convenient staying here,” he said.

Geeta Devi, another homeless person near Guru Nanak Stadium, said a couple of times she went to a night shelter but there are no separate ones for women and she feels uncomfortable staying at such places.

“Here I have more women around me and feel safe. I do not prefer going to the night shelters,” she adds.

The most accessible night shelter located centrally near the Clock Tower is lying shut since the past two years after the building was declared unsafe. Homeless people staying around Mata Rani Chowk, Railway Station, Jagraon Bridge, Domoria Bridge, Bhadaur House and Guru Nanak Stadium use to spend nights at the shelter as it was easily approachable. They were able to go and return in the morning on their own due to the accessible location. The shelter was able to accommodate 50 persons.