The Social Affairs Minister Invites Homeless People to Live in MoSA’s Flats

JAKARTA (19 January 2024) – As a Minister in charge of the underprivileged, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini acted fast to address the issues she encountered. While passing the Kampung Melayu flyover, the Minister noticed a large number of homeless individuals gathered. Suddenly, the Minister dispatched officials to conduct an assessment on Thursday (18/1). The Minister then met with the homeless at the Aneka Bhakti Building of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) on Friday (19/1), to discuss their situation.

The Minister took a personal approach, asking each homeless person individually about their issues and desires. There are various alternatives available. These options include receiving entrepreneurship training in a MoSA’s center, returning to their hometown, or living in a MoSA-owned flat.

The Minister underlined that those who can reside in flats must have a Jakarta ID and be married. "The flat is for families. If the children's school is too far away, we can assist them in moving to a more convenient location," the Minister stated.

Few of those 21 persons have identity cards. The Minister then offered them to return to their village and become entrepreneurs. Their business will be monitored by the nearest MoSA's center. The Minister stated that success does not always have to be in Jakarta; it may also be achieved in the village.

"We are willing to help those who want to return to their villages," said the Minister, persuading people without identity cards to return to their hometowns.

The responses were varied. Some agreed to return right away, but others preferred to remain in Jakarta and refused to return. For this reason, the Minister extended an invitation to stay and receive training at the MoSA’s Center in Jakarta, particularly for the elderly. "You must have savings when you are old. If you get to the center, everything is covered. For example, if you are sick and do not have an ID card, how will you get treated?" the Minister said.

One of the homeless people from Surabaya, Ubay (83), admitted that he would follow the Minister’s advice. He has lived in Jakarta since he was a child, but in recent years he has become homeless and sleeps in parks. Every day, he works as a scavenger, earning between IDR 35,000 and IDR 50,000. This elderly guy, known as Pak Uban, hopes to return to Surabaya.

“I want to go back. I Remember my address (house in Surabaya), but I forgot the house number," he told the Minister.

The Minister immediately contacted her colleagues in Surabaya to help find Ubay's family. The hope is that Ubay can return to Surabaya.