PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya is working with government agencies, academics and civil society groups to develop a more coordinated system for helping homeless people and vulnerable residents across the city. Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinitkarn chaired a Sept 4 meeting titled “Pattaya Model: Lessons Learned and Working Guidelines for Homelessness in Pattaya,” bringing together officials, academics, civil society organizations and other agencies involved in helping people living without stable housing.
The meeting followed fieldwork and discussions held on Sept 3, when Pattaya officials and partner organizations surveyed homelessness in the city and exchanged information on the challenges faced by people living on the streets. Officials reviewed information gathered from field surveys, working groups and partner organizations, with discussions focusing on how to build and manage a shared database and develop a joint action plan.
Pattaya and its partners have already been surveying homeless people, establishing contact points for vulnerable groups, providing assistance and coordinating referrals to appropriate services.
The city is also developing a database designed to help officials better understand individual needs and connect people with government rights, welfare and other services.
Officials said homelessness cannot be addressed through short-term measures alone. The issue can involve housing, employment, family circumstances, financial difficulties, health and access to government services, requiring cooperation between multiple agencies. The Pattaya Model aims to move beyond responding to homeless people only when problems arise and instead create a structured system for identifying needs, providing assistance and helping vulnerable people access services and improve their quality of life.
The initiative will continue through cooperation between Pattaya City, government agencies, civil society organizations and academic institutions, with the goal of turning the model into a practical and sustainable system for the city.
