DONNA COX, Minister of Social Development, said new legislation will allow street dwellers to be moved off the streets, speaking at the sod-turning of a new homeless centre at South Quay, Port of Spain on Wednesday.

The five-storey building will house 200 homeless people and will cost $50 million, she said.

“The Ministry of Social Development does not have the legislative authority to remove persons from the streets.

“As a result the Socially Displaced Persons Act (2000) is currently being reviewed to provide us with the authority to do so.”

Cox later told reporters of how the law now stands. “We have to ask them if they want to be removed. We cannot just move them.

“Some of them there are mental health issues, some of them it is drug-abuse issues, so they will say no. We want to be able to help them.

“It’s really about assessing them and placing them.”

She said some street dwellers have mental health issues, some are elderly, some are ill.

“We want to ensure they go into the right areas.”

Asked about a time line for new homeless legislation, she said her ministry was working on a suite of laws including for the pensions and disabled, she hoped to be in Parliament in 2024.

“We have sent our legislation to get comments from persons to get input because there are those who are really interested and we want to get comments from them.”

Cox said the ministry was ensuring its policy and the new legislation were matching.

Newsday asked about any human rights concerns over legislation to move street dwellers off the street.

“We understand there are human rights issues to be dealt with. That’s why we have to do what we are doing legally. That’s part of the reason why we have to look at the legislation”

She said it all needed a collaborative approach, between her ministry and the likes of the Ministry of Health.

Newsday asked what could be done immediately regarding dangerous street dwellers who assault passers-by.

Cox replied, “The police intervention is important.”

However, she said, at present, even if such individuals are taken to hospitals or mental institutions, they would be let out the next day. “That’s why the legal aspect is so important, so you could keep them.”

Cox said even a street dweller who was mentally-ill and had attacked someone could not be prevented from leaving a mental institution under current laws.

“Nobody can stop you. And they are aware of that.

“That is not comforting to the police either, after going through all of that.”

Cox in her address listed the attempts since 1978 to address the socially-displaced including seven task forces/Cabinet appointed committees, eight studies/reports and six strategic/action plans.

“The question of homelessness has not been neglected, but execution appears to have been a challenge.”

She said the centre would offer its residents a new beginning in life, providing meals and clothes plus psychosocial and spiritual counselling.

“Levels two, three and four will house male and female dormitories including TV rooms/gathe