Social Case Competition

[HOPE -- Hope Opportunity People Enrichment]

In 2019, there were 2,719 homeless people in Thailand around public places and shelters. Due to covid-19, the number of homeless people is estimated to increase up to 30%. The reasons for them to become homeless include economic downturns, domestic violence, mental illness, loss of parents, addiction disorders and need of freedom.

According to the research, what homeless people need the most are food and shelters. So, we came up with H.O.P.E, Hope Opportunity People Enrichment. H.O.P.E. is a project created to build up a strong community for homeless people to relax for 6 months. Moreover, we are trying to shape their attitude by consulting them throughout the program and encourage these people to start their new better life. We will be providing them housing, vaccines, food and basic necessities.

Each homeless person from all the areas will be chosen based on social workers' criteria. In case they don’t want to participate in the program, we will raise awareness and give them hope. Most important factor about this is their ID. If they don’t have one, our project will support them by bringing them to make a pink card for the non Thai citizens, or bringing them to the process of verifying their status if they are Thai citizens. If they want to participate and have an ID, they will be taken to the designated shelter. After that, we will be consulting them to prepare their body and mind alongside a 14-day quarantine and vaccination. Then all of them will need to do a self evaluation in order to select their specialty. During the time of workshop and learning about the specialization, there will be a job finding and consultation period before each person is ready to move out.

During the program, each person will have to do the self evaluation to choose the specialty according to what they are good at and their interests. The specializations include agricultural work, wood working, fabric work, handicraft, cooking, backing, construction work, repair work, trim work, art work, and cleaning service taught by professionals from each specialty as listed in the Bibliography slide. While they are in the process of self evaluation and ready to move out, they will need to have a weekly consultation with the advisers from the foundation and the department of mental health. Besides the training according to the specialty, we will be providing activities -- sports or cooking or carving -- to make them have extra income. Furthermore, we will negotiate with the companies to offer jobs including free or low price housing in exchange for the tax deduction (maximum 500 baht per month).

Homeless people in Bangkok increase at around 8-10% per year and will reach 10,000 people in 2033 if there is no measure to prevent this issue. Overall, our project can decrease the number of homeless by at least 500 people per year. In 10 years, we will be able to decrease the number over 5,000 people or twice the number of all homeless in 2018. For the future plan, when there is less homeless, the project will expand and be available for people outside our target group.