Why no shelter for homeless, Gerakan asks Penang govt

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has been asked why there is no long-term solution to address the increasing number of homeless people in the city.
Padang Kota Gerakan's coordinator Hng Khoon Leng said many of these vagrants could still be seen sleeping at the five-foot way of buildings.
He said the state has not made good its promise to build a halfway house or shelter for the homeless.
"We hope the state can provide a solution to this," he told reporters outside Anjung Singgah meant for homeless in Lebuh Chulia.
This shelter, which comes under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, is to provide temporary accommodation and protection for the homeless and jobless.
Hng said the shetler set up four years ago could only cater for 35 people at one time and only provide stay for them up to two weeks due to limited places.
When contacted, state welfare exco Phee Boon Poh said the state had a plan to set up a night shelter and a quarantine hall near the Veterinary Centre at Jalan Gurdwara.
However, approval has not been granted since the application was submitted to federal government in 2013.
"What happened to this application?" he urged the federal government to give the green light soon.