Our Homeless Caring Centre serves homeless people who gravitate to Taipei usually in the mistaken belief that they will find work and stability.
The causes of homelessness in Taiwan are somewhat different to those in other developed countries. Typically a homeless person in Taiwan becomes so through a series of events beyond his control or due to poor decisions that had unforeseen circumstances. Some of the common examples are:
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The Salvation Army Homeless caring Centre was established in late 1990’s but was recognised and valued in the 2003 SARS outbreak. The outbreak led to a crisis where there was insufficient workers to deliver control measures to the homeless people of Taipei.
Because of its strong international track record of serving homeless people, and established rapport with the homeless population, The Salvation Army took on this role, which in the longer term established the organisation as a highly committed and respected provider of homeless services in Taiwan
Today the Centre delivers a range of services for over 80 homeless persons daily in Taipei including provision of meals, clothing, showers, haircuts, counselling, employment placement matching and short term employment projects often in partnership with the city government in work at city parks and gardens.
Because of its strong international track record of serving homeless people, and established rapport with the homeless population, The Salvation Army took on this role, which in the longer term established the organisation as a highly committed and respected provider of homeless services in Taiwan
Today the Centre delivers a range of services for over 80 homeless persons daily in Taipei including provision of meals, clothing, showers, haircuts, counselling, employment placement matching and short term employment projects often in partnership with the city government in work at city parks and gardens.
But of greater significance is the provision of case management, which provides a means of moving them back into mainstream society, employment, accommodation and financial stability. Counselling is also involved to strengthen their personal self-esteem and positive affirmation.
Case work is intense, and therefore relatively costly. One worker can carry a case load of about 30 clients and typically it takes about two years for a homeless person to transition to be a contributing member of society. However, this is a proven effective to encourage hope to all who have to battle with homelessness. Research evidence also confirms that this is a highly effective method of reducing the national welfare burden and increasing the number of persons who can contribute back to society.
Case work is intense, and therefore relatively costly. One worker can carry a case load of about 30 clients and typically it takes about two years for a homeless person to transition to be a contributing member of society. However, this is a proven effective to encourage hope to all who have to battle with homelessness. Research evidence also confirms that this is a highly effective method of reducing the national welfare burden and increasing the number of persons who can contribute back to society.
A Case Management Study
The Salvation Army’s preferred approach to homelessness and other psychosocial problems is case management. Case management is evidence based and has the goal of supporting the homeless person (the client) to become an effective member of society by working to mutually agreed goals and outcomes over a period of months and years. Fifty-year-old Mr Huang (real name withheld for privacy) is an example of how a case management approach can work.
He grew up in a low-income family, with an abusive and violent father. His home environment was very chaotic and he often witnesses his mother being beaten by his father. Eventually his mother left, leaving Mr Huang in the care of his father.
During all this time, no one took responsibility for his education, and so he did not attend school, nor achieved any degree of literacy and numeracy. Further, he had a disability from birth which confined him to a wheelchair.
His father died when he was 14 years old and Mr Huang went to live with an uncle. However he was expected to meet his own living costs, and was obliged to work in whatever jobs he could find. He settled into a survival mode of taking poorly paid casual work wherever he could, his disability and lack of education precluding him from anything more stable.
At the age of 30, he had an accident, which prevented him from being able to use a wheelchair. As a result he then had to get about on crutches. This further impacted his ability to earn and he was always struggling to raise enough even for food. All this time he dreamed of getting an education and being able to read and write.
He was contacted by a Salvation Army social worker and after a while he engaged in case management. Within a short time his caseworker helped him to get registered in a school and he has been studying now for two years. He is extremely grateful for what The Salvation Army is doing for him, and feels that his life has some direction. Probably for the first time in his life, he is extremely optimistic for the future.
The Salvation Army’s preferred approach to homelessness and other psychosocial problems is case management. Case management is evidence based and has the goal of supporting the homeless person (the client) to become an effective member of society by working to mutually agreed goals and outcomes over a period of months and years. Fifty-year-old Mr Huang (real name withheld for privacy) is an example of how a case management approach can work.
He grew up in a low-income family, with an abusive and violent father. His home environment was very chaotic and he often witnesses his mother being beaten by his father. Eventually his mother left, leaving Mr Huang in the care of his father.
During all this time, no one took responsibility for his education, and so he did not attend school, nor achieved any degree of literacy and numeracy. Further, he had a disability from birth which confined him to a wheelchair.
His father died when he was 14 years old and Mr Huang went to live with an uncle. However he was expected to meet his own living costs, and was obliged to work in whatever jobs he could find. He settled into a survival mode of taking poorly paid casual work wherever he could, his disability and lack of education precluding him from anything more stable.
At the age of 30, he had an accident, which prevented him from being able to use a wheelchair. As a result he then had to get about on crutches. This further impacted his ability to earn and he was always struggling to raise enough even for food. All this time he dreamed of getting an education and being able to read and write.
He was contacted by a Salvation Army social worker and after a while he engaged in case management. Within a short time his caseworker helped him to get registered in a school and he has been studying now for two years. He is extremely grateful for what The Salvation Army is doing for him, and feels that his life has some direction. Probably for the first time in his life, he is extremely optimistic for the future.