Winter Shelters for the Homeless

Setting up winter shelters for the homeless who are forced to sleep under the open sky is always a challenge.

Yet with advocacy, the quality of the shelters have improved over the years. This year 108 shelters are set up in the entire state of Bihar, in all the district headquarters and in places having a population of more than 1 lakh people. We reach out to 4019 people across the state.

The shelters are temporary for three months in the winter season. Whereas there permanent structures as well which are functional for all the 12 months of the year.

Every shelter is managed by 3 care takers around the clock for an 8 hour duty. The manager is paid 8970/- per month and the care takers 8610/- per month.

Winter Shelters provided by the Bihar government and monitored by Aashray Abhiyaan

Visiting the shelters in the night is important to ensure all the basic facilities are provided. Wooden beds, bed sheets, blankets, pillows. In addition we have CCTV set up in each shelter, which houses 30 to 50 beds depending on the space available.

Every person who spends the night has to enter his /her name in the register with details about himself.

This initiative by the state government is a happy respite for the ones who migrate from district to district for their livelihood.

A training for the caretakers was also organized to listen to their queries and to motivate them to carry out their responsibility in a well planned manner. These simple people try their best to reach out to the homeless who avail of the facilities during the winter months.