Doğuş Derya: Homelessness Issue is Growing Exponentially

As part of the "Issues and Solutions Report on Social Policies" carried out by the CTP Women's Organization, Famagusta became the focus of their recent visits. The delegation, consisting of CTP Women's Organization President Doğuş Derya, Famagusta Deputy Şifa Çolakoğlu, Women's Organization Foreign Relations Secretary Simge Okburan, Famagusta Women's Organization President Mine Karaca, and İYK members Asya İlktaç, Rana Erozan Uluçay, Halide Dalokay, Esen Beyköylü, and Özge Akdeniz, visited private elderly care homes, the Social Services Department, and the İrfan Nadir Rehabilitation Center for Over 18s with Disabilities in the Famagusta region.

The deepening poverty, along with the increasing problems, was thoroughly discussed during the visits.

"THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY"

Following the meetings, Women's Organization President Derya stated, "As with other areas of social policy, the money allocated in the state budget for the needs of dependent patients, the elderly, disabled, and poor individuals is very insufficient. Unfortunately, we observe that the housing problem of people in need of care is increasing every day. Unfortunately, the homelessness problem is growing exponentially."

Derya expressed that with the economic crisis, poverty has deepened, and the number of vulnerable groups has increased.

Stating that even private elderly care homes face financial difficulties, Derya said, "There are no certification criteria for the personnel to work in care homes, and there is no regulation that determines the logistics and medical requirements required in care homes, as well as working hours, leading to serious problems."

"THE RIGHT TO HOUSING, ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, IS BEGINNING TO DISAPPEAR"

Derya mentioned that individuals with chronic mental illnesses are forced to stay in elderly care homes, and many elderly people in need of care cannot find a place due to the scarcity of care homes. Derya stated that many elderly and sick people receiving social assistance are poor and lonely individuals, and social assistance payments must be spent on fixed expenses such as the rent of care homes, staff salaries, kitchen expenses, electricity, and water bills.

In their meetings with the Social Services Department, Derya said that they observed the growing problem of homelessness. She emphasized that the right to housing, one of the most basic human rights, is starting to disappear, and if immediate measures are not taken, serious problems will be experienced in the future.