Homeless family of six now in hotel, thanks to
Baitulmal
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KUALA LUMPUR: A couple and their four children, who made public benches around the city their 'home' over the past two weeks, finally received a helping hand when they were taken in by Federal Territory Baitulmal early this morning.
The family, including four siblings aged between 5 and 10, was approached by the Baitulmal officers as well as volunteers from the Social Problem Intervention Committee (Unggas) near the Medan Pasar clock tower, here, about midnight.
After a discussion, the couple, in their 40s, agreed to be taken to a hotel near Kampung Baru where they would spend several nights pending further assistance from the religious body.
Baitulmal officer Mohd Nizam Yahaya said the family would be placed in the hotel for several nights while they prepare long-term lodging.
"We are now going to take the couple and their children to have dinner first, as we were told that they haven't eaten proper food the whole day.
"After that, we will take them to a hotel near our office.
"The husband said he had secured a job in Puchong, and also found a room to let there. Baitulmal will provide financial assistance and pay for the family's lodging, as well as other necessary aid," he told the New Straits Times.
He said Baitulmal would also provide assistance for the children to continue their schooling.
NST went to the location yesterday and saw the family taken into Baitulmal's van.
The couple was seen thanking volunteers and Baitulmal officers for their help.
Besides Unggas, several other non-governmental organisations as well as concerned members of the public had also gone to the area to extend aid to the family last night.
It was learnt that the Good Samaritans had learnt about the family's plight from social media as well as news reports.
The New Straits Times yesterday reported that the family had to spend two weeks on the street after they were kicked out from their house following failure to settle rent.
Family Of Six Sleeping On Public Benches After Eviction
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 02 February 2014 22:07
The children had to drop out of school too./NSTKUALA LUMPUR: A couple and their four children had to sleep on public benches in the city since the past two weeks, after they were kicked out of their rented house.
The family, including four siblings aged between 5 and 10, was found sleeping near the Medan Pasar clock tower here about 1.30am this morning by a group of social work volunteers.
Social Problem Intervention Committee (Unggas) volunteer Kamaruddin Kassim said three of the children were sleeping on two concrete benches while another was on the floor, with only old newspapers as their 'bedsheet'.
He said the children's mother had told volunteers that they were ordered to vacate their house somewhere in the city, two weeks ago after failing to settle their rent.
"Since then, the family have had to seek 'shelter' at public places.
"We are working to get assistance for them, including getting our volunteers from the medical field to check on the kids' health.
"The children seemed fine physically... but we are worried about their mental health and development if they continue to live in such conditions," he said, adding that the children had also dropped out of school.
However, Kamaruddin said the committee did not manage to gather much information during their charity program this morning, as the family left after having breakfast before they could be interviewed.
"Our volunteers are looking for the family, and hopefully we can find them again tonight so that we can channel proper assistance to them."
-NST Online
