The second meeting promoted by the Public Defender’s Office of the State of Amazonas (DPE-AM) to build consensus aimed at implementing public policies for the homeless population in the municipality of Manaus, which took place this Thursday (2), achieved significant progress in relation to the first meeting, held on April 16th.
“One of the advances of this second meeting is the presentation of the project for a halfway house for the homeless population in the State of Amazonas. The other point of progress is that the other bodies will now start looking for another property for the hostel in the municipality of Manaus”, highlighted public defender Thiago Rosas, responsible for the Public Defender’s Office Specialized in Human Rights.
The defender mobilized everyone involved to look for properties in the Center of Manaus region that could be used as a hostel for the installation of municipal equipment. Among the possibilities mentioned at the meeting are expropriations of private individuals, donations of Union properties and even the use of properties seized in Federal Police operations. Properties must meet the criteria to be used for the purpose of welcoming the homeless population.
The State Secretariat for Urban and Metropolitan Development (Sedurb) and the Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE) presented a project for a halfway house, aimed at people who are transitioning from homelessness to regular life in society. Unlike the hostel, this equipment is complementary to public policy for the sector. The state project, which should also be installed in the central region, took into account a maximum capacity of 50 people and should serve men aged 19 to 59. The definition of space management remained open.
The articulation promoted by DPE-AM has three main objectives:
1. Construction of the municipal hostel
2. Increase the teams at the Gecilda Albano and Amine Daou shelters
3. Holding a public competition for servers for the new hostel and the two shelters
Next steps
The next meeting with public bodies and movements in the segment is scheduled to take place on the 23rd of this month.
During this Thursday’s meeting, at the headquarters of DPE-AM, representatives of municipal, state and federal public bodies participated, as well as organized civil society entities, including: Regional Labor Court of the 11th Region (TRT11), Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), State Secretariat for Urban and Metropolitan Development (Sedurb), State Secretariat for Health (SES-AM), Special Project Management Unit (UGPE), State Secretariat for Justice, Human Rights and Citizenship (Sejusc) , Municipal Attorney General’s Office (PGM), Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (Semasc), Municipal Secretariat of Education (Semed), Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Auditors of the State of Amazonas, Harm Reduction Association (Ardam), Chamber of Store Managers (CDL Manaus) and Municipal Council for the Elderly.
In total, 33 institutions participate in consensus-building meetings promoted by the Public Defender’s Office.
Text: Luciano Falbo
Photos: Márcio Silva/DPE-AM
Tags: DPEAM advances coordination build equipment homeless population Manaus
