Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says cases have emerged of young adults leaving home because of domestic violence.
She said that in such cases, they located the relatives of the young adults and reunited them when it was safe to do so.
“Where it is not safe, we place them in shelters and connect them to education and employment opportunities,” Ms Kiran added.
“The longer these children stay on the streets, the higher their risk of exposure to injectables, HIV, STIs, and abuse.
“Everyone has the right to live with dignity and must be provided with proper shelter and the necessities of life — and we are making every effort to ensure this.”
She emphasizes that building trust through compassion and coordinated care is critical.
“Those who take the time to feed street dwellers often build trust, and that trust is vital in providing other support services.
“We ask those who feed people on the streets to also connect them to wraparound services — to shelters, work, and education opportunities — and to work with our teams on the ground.
“However, we also urge caution, as random or isolated feeding can sometimes attract people to remain on the streets, exposing them to ongoing risks of abuse and disease.
“It is each of our responsibility to help our fellow citizens in need, and we deeply appreciate all the assistance extended by individuals, organisations, and faith groups to help those on the streets find a better quality of life connected to opportunities and dignity,”
Ms Kiran said addressing social challenges on our streets required more than government intervention — it demands a whole-of-society approach where communities, faith-based organisations and all citizens work together to ensure that support is delivered safely, with dignity, and through proper rehabilitation pathways.”
