Municipal police officers
question this person, and finding him to be homeless, transfer him to a
shelter.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Admitting they are unable to solve Pattaya’s homeless problem
alone, city social workers urged the public to report any vagrants and
street children panhandling or sleeping in public.
Responding to a recent Pattaya Mail “Baywatch” article showing a
homeless man sleeping on Beach Road, Theeraporn Sreejan, head of
Pattaya’s Social Welfare Department, said the city requires public
assistance to keep a lid on the homeless problem.
She said the majority of homeless people arrive penniless from other
provinces or are mentally ill. However, city officials have little
information on their whereabouts and, often, homeless stopped by police
claim they are merely tourists, leaving authorities powerless to do
anything.
She urged anyone spotting a person sleeping or living on the street or
creating a nuisance to call the Pattaya Call Center at 1337 with the
person’s location, description and behavior.
Once under the city’s care, homeless people can benefit from a number of
services, from shelter to vocational training, she said.
Street children are placed in orphanages or long-term homes while
homeless adults are transferred to shelters in Nonthaburi and Saraburi.
There, she said, government workers offer them vocational training,
medical treatment and other services to get them back on their feet.
