It is impossible to help the homeless?

“Need to do something”

Residents are also worried about their safety, as the person does not only shy away from drinking, but also invite friends who like to do it, so walking in this forest is uncomfortable and dangerous.

Rasa Arcišauskienė, the elder of the Paupiai eldership, said that the man is eating, littering and doing natural affairs here. So locals living near this area are afraid to go out for a walk or exercise in the evenings.

For this situation, the elder approached Klaipeda municipality and hostels.

« This is a sensitive situation. Some of them have to be left, I am in favor of doing something. He lives there for several years. As soon as I found out, I went to him right away and said he had to do something. He disagreed with anything. He approached me because he was afraid to walk in the area, ”said R. Arcišauskienė.

It is impossible to help without consent

It is difficult to determine the age of a man, but he is not a pensioner. Despite some features of appearance, it looks normal.

« I think we can’t ignore it. If we think more, we will do so with us. » It would be very difficult to achieve a person of this age, but if we succeed, it would be wonderful, ”the interviewer hoped.

If he disagrees, it is his decision.

The head of Klaipeda hostel Alma Kontrimaitė emphasized that it is impossible to help a person without his consent.

« Our social workers seek to help, at least in part, even if they refuse to stay hostel because of their motives, » said A. Kontrimaitė.

With the consent of the person, he or she is assisted in various ways, from documentation, benefits to visits to the doctor and the provision of accommodation services.

« This is also the case, if a person disagrees, it disagrees. The communities respond very differently. Some are supposedly a helping hand, say, food. So if he gets food, clothes or things, those items over the years increase, » said A. Kontrimaitė, adding that people usually do not want to move.

Alma Kontrimaitė. Photo by Vytautas Liaudanskis

To the street – not just because of drunkenness

The staff of the hostel has been in contact with this man all year round.

« There are, as it is, unpleasant. We social workers also see that it could be different, much better if he used services. But if he does not agree, it is his decision, » noted A. Kontrimaitė.

In general, the situation in Klaipeda is sad – the number of people of dysfunctional, homeless people is increasing, all the places in Klaipeda hostel are filled.

According to A. Kontrimaitė, people here are not only because of addictions, some lose their homes after a fire, illness or other disaster.