Kicked out of public spaces in San Fernando, street dwellers slept under the eaves of buildings, under trees on Chancery Lane and in the compound of the San Fernando General Hospital on Wednesday night.
The street dwellers usually rest under tents at Harris Promenade but since their shelters were dismantled, they now have been forced to find alternative accommodation.
Guardian Media reached out to some of the homeless people who said they were hoping to get some kind of accommodation soon.
Nigel Phillip who is originally from Point Fortin and who has been living on the streets for the past three years said he slept under the eaves of the building near the San Fernando Police Station.
Phillip said he usually stayed at the promenade during the day when it was hot but now he has to find other spaces.
Michael Ifill said he went back to a house in Navet Road where he stays occasionally.
Some of the street dwellers who had begged for accommodation were not seen on the streets yesterday.
San Fernando Mayor told Guardian Media on Wednesday that he has found space for five people and employment for two street dwellers. He said because of the spread of COVID-19, all public spaces will no longer be accessible to the public.
However, the president of the Caribbean Dawah Association Asad Yacoobali told Guardian Media that despite the displacement, they received no additional requests from street dwellers on Wednesday night.
A total of 30 homeless people are usually accommodated at the centre every night and each are given dinner and breakfast. Yacoobali said since the COVID-19 lockdown, the number of homeless people in San Fernando has increased.
Prior to the lockdown, the Ministry of Social Development led by Minister Donna Cox had been reviewing the plight of the homeless.
A total of 441 homeless people were tabulated of which 190 lived in Port-of-Spain.
Cox gave a breakdown in Parliament last year and noted that 71 homeless people were living in San Fernando, 39 in Woodbrook, 14 in San Juan, 26 in Arima, 20 in Chaguanas, six in Point Fortin, five in Princes Town, three in Couva, two in St Augustine and one in Aranguez.
