Homeless shelter struggling to cope

Herbergið, Tórshavn’s homeless shelter, is struggling to cope with the growing number of elderly substance abusers.

Shelter leader Martin Kúrberg is urging health authorities to step in as the shelter staff do not have the capacity to help these people on their own.

“Our work has expanded significantly beyond what is normally required of a homeless shelter. For instance, we do not have the resources or capacity to change the diapers of our elderly residents several times a day,” he says.

“Our primary duty is to provide shelter for homeless people. But many of our residents are old substance abusers who require full-time supervision and medical care.”

Urgent need for a solution

The homeless shelter houses 18 full-time residents, and it has recently had to turn down people because of lacking resources.

This creates the risk that many people are left with nowhere to go after being discharged from hospital.

“If we don’t shed light on this problem now, the homeless shelter risks becoming a garbage bin for other institutions who cannot take care of these people,” says Kúrberg.

“There is an urgent need for a place that can take proper care of these people, who in many cases have had a rough lifestyle and who now suffer from dementia.”

Minister vows to step in

Elsebeth Mercedis Gunnleygsdóttur, the new Minister of Social Affairs, says she is aware of the problem and that measures are being put in place to solve it. 

“I will call the relevant authorities together to first determine the scope of the problem, and then we will work towards finding a dignified solution for these people as soon as possible.”

The homeless shelter is financed by the Norwegian Salvation Army and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Translated by prosa.fo