The Open Arms Centre, once just a drop-in centre to provide temporary shelter, food and clothing to the homeless, has taken on the task of rehabilitating, resettling and reintegrating the homeless into society.

Speaking during a meeting with the Jamaica Observer journalists on Monday, Manager Yvonne Grant revealed that over 2,000 homeless people have received help from the Open Arms Centre since the facility opened on Windward Road in Kingston in 2006.

The centre is primarily in response to research from a five-year strategic plan to combat homelessness in Jamaica and was conducted by the National Community Committee led by senior medical officer at the Bellvue Hospital, Dr Maureen Irons Morgan.

Grant, who was also part of the committee, said the plan was mandated by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

“We looked at the needs that the homeless require and they need care, they need some place to go during the day, and some may need to be placed back into the community with family members or into the Golden Age home.”

She emphasised that contrary to popular belief, many homeless people are not mentally ill but simply need a place to live.

As such, the committee recommended drop-in centres, night shelters, and transitional housing where the homeless could live independently or semi-independently in communities.

Grant added that the five-year plan continues to be developed.

“So when we (Open Arms Centre) started, we started as a drop-in centre, because it would’ve provided an entry gate where people could be documented and their needs could be assessed and where we could offer them basic care.”

“The day we opened 22 homeless persons walked in to receive treatment; by evening, 29 persons decided that they were not returning to live on the streets, we now had a dilemma on our hands.”

According to Grant, the facility mostly accommodates males ranging from 18-59 years; however, the oldest participant currently is 92 years old.

“Many of them coming off the streets are battered, bruised, very antisocial, they have a lot of relationship problems, so we tend to call them our babies when they come in and we have persons working alongside them,” Grant explained.

She highlighted that the main objective of the centre was to make the homeless become productive and functional through rehabilitation.

“The rehabilitation stage, which is mostly for residential participants, starts with a needs assessment where we find out what their strengths are and we work on their needs.”

Grant said that some participants are required to set three-month goals in order to move from stage to stage.

“We help persons to get their birth certificate, identification and TRN.”

She added that as the behaviour of participants improve they would progress to the other levels where they can engage in other rehabilitation activities until they are ready to re-enter society.

Grant said the centre encourages patients to work together, especially because the organisation does not have adequate funds to hire staff.

“It has to be highly structured as well because persons who are homeless have no idea what it’s like to have a routine that is positive.”

She outlined that the centre also offered technical skills training such literacy and numeracy, barbering, sewing, farming, gardening, and computer training, among other things.

“Once participants have completed the rehabilitation process, they can go out to work or school and we will sometimes raise funds to assist them,” Grant said, adding that “some of them go out and become very successful”.

“We have one young man now who has three CXC subjects so far and he wants to be a maths teacher, We’ve raised some funds and he’s now doing another three subjects and UTech has decided provisionally to offer him a space,” Grant said. “Others have gone on to be doctors, lawyers and teachers,” she added.

When the Observer visited the facility last week Tuesday, participants were busy doing yard work, working in the thrift shop on the premises and socialising.

One participant, who gave his name as Mark, testified to Open Arms Centre’s good work.

“They have helped me to get my documents. We do work around here, which helps us to stay active and it keeps a roof over our heads,” said the deportee from the US who fell on hard times when he returned.

He added that he is trained in Computerised Numerical Cutting — where he can make machine parts — but is unable to get work because he does not have a certificate.

“So at Open Arms I’m able to learn other things like spray painting and I have gotten a few jobs from that,” he said.

“Open Arms has been ever helpful to me and a lot of guys here.”

Wayne, who was deported in to Jamaica in October, shared Mark’s sentiments.

“This is a safe place for me to stay and its a great place for me to get back on my feet.”

But with all the good the facility is doing Grant said it still needs help to provide living quarters for women.