Volunteer groups house ‘homeless’ persons in school

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) in Barangay Alijis here opened its doors on April 20 to shelter 34 homeless persons amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Rommel Azucena of the school’s Center for External Affairs said the homeless persons were identified during a series of food pack giving initiatives spearheaded by the Bayanihan Mission.

Bayanihan Mission was founded by Dr. Josephine Grace C. Rojo, a medical front-liner for SARS-COV task force in the Philippines, together with her sister Atty. Jane Catherine Rojo.

It is a group of volunteers, advocates, and private citizens from various sectors who came together to help the community survive the pandemic that is affecting the already struggling country.

Azucena said that these individuals were beneficiaries of the Temporary Shelter for the Homeless Project, a collaborative effort of the Bayanihan Mission, CHMSC, and the Bacolod Eagle’s Club, Inc. together with the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Bacolod.

The project aims to provide temporary shelter and basic needs to the homeless who are made more vulnerable in this time of COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Azucena said that verbal consent, a brief orientation, and management of expectations were done in the streets before these persons were brought to the temporary shelter.

Food and other necessities are provided to them through donations, he added.

He said that these individuals will stay at the shelter while the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is in effect until April 30.

But the groups are thinking of a way to continue helping them even after the quarantine is over.

He said that the groups are planning to provide them with skills training and livelihood projects through the help of their partners.