Shelter project for Indian-origin elders in New Zealand

A non-profit organisation in New Zealand has launched an emergency shelter project for senior citizens from the Indian and South Asian communities who are at risk of being abused, or in dire need of emergency housing, a media report said on Monday.

Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Inc. has launched the Shanti Niwas Emergency Housing (SNEH) in partnership with New Zealand's Rancchod Group, in order to take care of short-term and long-term shelter needs for the senior citizens living in abusive situations, Indian Weekender reported.

"The main objective of this shelter is to provide a safe and secure environment to our elders in such situations," the trust said.

The elders will be housed for an initial period of three weeks, with a maximum stay of three months.

SNEH's aim will be to get them back to their families, however if moving back is not an option, then the organisation will look into an alternative long-term arrangement.

Social workers will work with senior citizens to help them with the process of resettlement.

A small fee will be charged to defray a part of the expenses incurred in running and maintaining the SNEH facilities, according to the trust which works with socially isolated senior citizens of Indian and South Asian origin living in the Auckland region.