All posts by Jason Fernandes

05Jul/24

POOR GOAN HOMELESS CHILDLESS MIDDLE AGED WIDOW ABANDONED BY HER OWN MOTHER & FAMILY MEMBERS

Updates
28.5.24. 8pm IST 
Poor goan homeless childless middle aged widow abandoned by her own mother & family members, suffering from mental disabilities as well as blood related sickness ” BONE MARROW” ,  is need of Help.
4 months back we had highlighted her plight assuming her mother & family would atleast pay for her medical expenses but no one is bothered.
Link attached 
Mrs Ester is from SANCOALE and was & has been homeless for years due to issues which I can't get into.
Approx 2 years back brought by Fatorda Police to our home. 
We tried & the police also tried to get her mother to take her home but no success.
Ester is dying a slow death as she needs blood transfusion often. 
Her skin is totally white and too many other medical issues including mental disabilities being abandoned or rather unwanted by family.
Most of her parameters are beyond imagination.
Has stayed in many homes in Goa and sorry to say no one wants to keep her again.
I and she keep disagreeing , she leaves our home, sleeps on streets and bus stops , gives my no which she has by hearted, police call us and we take her back.
And this has happened quite a no of times in the last 2 years.
My shelter home doors are always open to such people but they have to follow rules and regulations.
In ESTER case she is not easy to handle and our care givers just can't manage her.
Twice we have stabilised her and each time it costed us more than Rs 1 lac as she requires an attendant full time In the hospital which charges are anything between Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 per 24 hours & her treatment takes 15 to 21 to even 30 days in hospitals. 
Due to all medical complications ESTER has turned rude, arrogant, low self esteem, doubts all, stressed , no motivation, COMPLICATED. 
Just now again she needs blood transfusion & is in a Government hospital. 
Hospital is asking us to keep an attendant which we can't afford plus wants us to sign documents which we can't take the risk as she has a mother living & tomorrow something goes wrong NGO will be blamed.
As of today we have put down in just 2 years more than Rs 2.5 lacs on her upkeep thru donations.
Practically every 2 – 3  months she requires a blood transfusion & hospitalization which compulsory includes a full time attendant with her during her stay in the hospital.
Currently we are in a midst of a slow down in the form of donations and sky rocketing price rise in all sectors is pushing us against the wall.
Today  we have 6 ladies & 3 men from our homes admitted in various hospitals and if we have to spend money in thousands if not lacs then where & how do we pay these bills.
Fancy slogans, International women day , this day and that day is only for social media likes and comments.
Ground reality for the poorest of the poor is something else.
Infact one district hospital where she was admitted could not do the blood transfusion due to non availability of blood and transfered her to another government hospital.
How do we manage such huge medical costs for so many poor goan people?
Where do such poor goan people go ?
In ESTER case it's only going to get worse every month as she wants her mother but does her mother understand that ?
And belive me her mother is a very rich lady.
I too feel her pain and I too understand her difficulty but at the end of the day all government departments are not taking much interest in the welfare of such poor goan widows who are genuinely homeless & abandoned.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020324848
05Jul/24

STREET PROVIDENCE GOA REQUESTS HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES TO THE POOR GOAN HOMELESS AS THEY ARE VOICELESS

Updates
21.6.24. 7pm IST 
70 years Old goan homeless man, weighing just 30 kgs weight, very low BP & a Hernia as big as a peeled coconut, is just being denied basic medical facilities in hospitals last 2 months.
Street Providence Goa requests Health Department to provide better facilities to the poor goan homeless as they are voiceless and we are really overburdened in daily running around different hospitals at times with different patients.
Please go thru our face book page ” Street Providence ” and understand daily how many trips we are making to hospitals with patients.
We will be highlighting next few days how the poor and homeless goans primarily are just not given medical treatment and attention on time.
☆ Case 1
Mr Santan elderly goan senior citizen found by the Sanguem Mamlatdar in Sanguem April 24
Admitted by Goa Police after local Health centre scribbled on a paper ” fit to be admitted into a shelter home “.
Did they examine & report he has Hernia which is the Size of a peeled coconut ? NO
Did they examine all his parameters and keep him for observation for atleast for 48 hours on a drip as he was totally exhausted? NO
Now how are we are without Government funds going to deal with such a serious matter. 
We tried getting help at :
☆ District hospital Margao,
☆ Gmc
☆ District hospital Mapusa. 
Everywhere it's just excuses and excuses with each Doctor saying he does not need surgery.
Every report at a hospital contradicts the previous doctor. 
One can imagine his pain in this old age and with the stress of he being abandoned as no one has come forward to lodge a missing report neither is he saying anything of his family.
We have attached a synopsis of how he is being shuttled up and down between all Government hospitals.
See how many times we have admitted & discharged him but nothing is working in his favour.
This is sad & disappointing for Santan and for us.
All his parameters are going haywire. 
Like Santan there are about 50 such serious cases of poor homeless psychiatric goans going through the same disappointing procedures.
Because of lack of medical support from the hospitals we have stopped taking homeless last 2 months as each and every case referred for admission is not treated with dignity in hospitals and we can't take this stress any more.
Plenty of homeless poor goans suffering from mental disabilities & other sickness on the streets and in hospitals.
No one cares and no one is bothered.
If Santan has to be treated and delivered of his pain then he has to be admitted into a good private hospital with the costs going upto 
Rs 2 lacs which we are unable to bear as there are multiple parameters to be controlled before and after the operation.
We are completely frustrated, stressed & disappointed at how Santan condition is getting bad to worse .
It's like seeing death in front of you and we just can't do anything.
All querries strictly through whatsapp messages only 8380098564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
03Jul/24

FOOD BANK SANGOLDA COLLECTS 6000 kgs/6 TONNES OF EXTRA COOKED CANTEEN FOOD FOR THE MONTH OF 6June 24 FROM 7 FACTORIES SITUATED IN VERNA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

Updates
2.7.24. 8pm. IST
FOOD BANK SANGOLDA collects 6000 kgs/6 tonnes of extra cooked canteen food for the month of June 24 from 7 factories situated in Verna Industrial Estate, which enabled us to feed 18000 meals across Goa.
An initiative, supported by The Department of Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers, Government of Goa , Altinho Goa is slowly reducing wet waste and bringing food on the plate to the poorest of the poor.
In the last 3 months we have collected this :
☆ April 24 – 5 Factories  – 5000 kgs / 5 tons / month
☆ May 24  – 6 Factories – 5000 kgs / 5 tons / month 
☆ June 24 – 7 Factories – 6000 kgs / 6 tons / month 
Target by DEC 24 – 20000 kgs / 20 tons , enough to feed 60000 meals a month.
50 % of the food goes to our shelter homes both in North & South Goa.
10 % of the food goes to other homes 
40% of the food goes to the poor families who may be daily wage workers, sanitation workers, etc.
Our 7 collaboraters who have come forward to support the hungry & poor are :
☆ Commscope
☆ Micro labs 
☆ IFB
☆ Siemens 
☆ Marksons
☆ Lupin
☆ Sanofi.
Coming month of July 24 , we are adding two more companies in Verna Industrial Estate to the existing 7 companies who will provide their extra canteen food to our food bank which will enable our collection to reach approx 8000 kgs of food enough to feed up to 24000 meals in July 24.
Not an easy task as these are really big factories and it's a very systematic and careful planned operation we run at these 7 factories picking up this food.
With 2 hours flat , our frozen food truck visits all these 7 factories and picks up this food.
90% of of this food collected from these 7 factories , is collected in food grade reusable plastic see thru boxes as a result we don't use much plastic bags for food collection.
Just like the 7 factories are reducing the wet waste by donating their food , we too as a food bank are reducing plastic by collecting food in reusable containers.
It's a unique concept across India started in Goa where by factories have allowed our small NGO to install our  fridges in their factories and willingly donate their extra food to a cause of ending Hunger and homelessness in Goa.
With inflation continously on the rise, this fresh cooked food is a big boost to our shelter homes as well as the poor families who depend on this food daily.
We feel happy that Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers, Sir Pangam has understood the meaning of hunger and food wastage and is requesting factories to donate their canteen food to a worthy cause.
I wish more Officers / Directors of various Government departments in Goa, act like 
Sir Pangam and think out of the box, when sitting in their air-conditioned office, to help the poor & needy. 
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
02Jul/24

79 YEARS OLD HOMELESS MAN HAS BEEN REFERRED BY THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL FOR A STENT

Updates
2.7.24. 9pm.  IST
☆ Case 2 @ Street Providence Goa. 
79 years old Elderly homeless man Mr Leuin Marquis has been referred by The Government hospital to be treated in a private hospital for a stent which is only done in 2 hospitals In Goa but privately.
Operation costs on a higher side Rs 50000.
We have been providing shelter to Mr Leuin right from Covid time when we picked him up from the streets of Navelim.
Old, feeble , quite by nature but having multiple health issues as he has been living on the streets of Mumbai, Goa , Kochin for over a decade. 
We have been taking him to Government hospitals whenever he is unwell but after doing multiple tests and check ups , he has been advised to do the Stent replacement privately.
Now put yourself in my place.
And just understand the frustrations & headache I go through with such homeless people who we have.
We can just ignore the recommendations and let him live with the pain or we can treat him privately.
Happy Father's Day was just a few days back.
What is there in store for this elderly man who might be an abandoned father ?
This is the 2nd case where we are looking at treating a homeless person privately. 
Case 1 was Santan who had a Hernia as big as a peeled coconut, and on 23rd June, we admitted Santan into Victor Hospital Margao. 
Homeless are not easy to manage as they carry along of sickness including psychiatric disabilities. 
I an reaching a cross road where I am unsure whether to take in old and sick homeless people with complicated health issues or only take in the young homeless  people with mild health issues.
Like Case 1 & case 2, our Homes have many more such cases where we are continously running around in different government hospitals fog treatment which at times is just nerve wrecking.
See the no of homeless increasing in all cities of Goa and also there are homeless in Government hospitals. 
We have stopped taking last 2 months as there is no government support from hospitals.
If the NGO is going to do what the authorities are suppose to do then Authorities need to fund the NGO at today inflation rate and not at the rate when calculated last in 2007.
For men we are given a grant of Rs 2500 per man/ per month for just one home that too for 10 men of that one home.
For women it's been calculated and given for 
50 women @ Rs 2500 some women & Rs 4500 some women, in our 5 homes.
It's a total stress to raise resources / donations everytime through social media. 
People think ” NGO is always asking for donations ” .
But this is the reality – we are caring for alot of poor goan homeless senior citizens suffering from multiple sickness including mental disabilities having absolutely no one to fall back on.
Health Department, Social Welfare, Women & Child, EMPOWERMENT for Persons with Disabilities Department, are all in relaxed mode where the poor goans on the streets are concerned.
No one is understanding from the above departments that homeless are on the streets due to genuine reasons and it's the government duty to help them through shelter homes.
All querries strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
28Jun/24

WE REPATRIATE TODAY, A VERY YOUNG N.E. GIRL FROM GOA, BY FLIGHT, TO THE FURTHER MOST STATE IN INDIA WHICH IS APPROX 4000+ kms ONE WAY

Updates
28.6.24. 7pm IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA, repatriate today, a very young N.E. girl from GOA,  by FLIGHT, to the furthermost state in India which is approcx 4000+ kms one way.
Imagine you get a call at 11.30 pm from the cops saying we need your help & it's complicated.  
Exactly 1 year back, a LPSI called saying there Is this very tired, extremely young girl from NE, homeless & abandoned please help.
This young girl was in a situation which no young girl should ever ever be in or should ever  experience.
She traveled by train for many days from one end of INDIA in a very sad state of affairs.
We were scared and yet it was a rainy night anything could go wrong.
Slowly things fell in place, she settled down , she opened up , we contacted the single parent & we were now at peace.
The D day of solving the problem arrived & everything went well with The Grace of God.
All legal formalities completed by the Concerned authorities and the girl was totally fresh & relaxed
She took a challenging and bold decision which even surprised me.
For over 6 months she stayed back to help us as a sign of Thanksgiving for our support to her in the most difficult time of her life & we compensated her fairly, month after month.
She turned out to be a Good care giver and a very hard worker , with no short cuts & we could never ever complain.
The most difficult job that any care giver is expected to do towards a bedridden patient this young girl would undertake with a smile and do cheerfully.
When she expressed her desire to go & visit her single ailing parent we stood by her and bought her a flight ticket from Goa to her home state.
We felt if she travelled by train she might encounter issues which she might not be able to avoid .
The quickest train from Goa to her state is nothing less that 8 to 10 days & monsoon season is already progressing across India.
By flight it's just 12 hours v/s 8 – 10 days by train.
Thank God, that LPSI @ Goa Police called me & we were able to do the little we could to bring smile back on the face of the distraught young girl.
Many such instances in Goa usually don't get help or rather instead of helping these instances are exploited for Domestic help or just pushed into illegal trade.
We wish This young girl all the best in her future.
We feel satisfied to have stood by her and helped her during those stressful & complicated days she was going through.
You too can play such roles in reaching out to such poor abandoned and bringing that feeling of joy and happiness into their lives.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
18Jun/24

WE ARE BACK @ TUEM HELPING THIS ELDERLY GOAN MOTHER & HER SON WHO IS SUFFERING FROM DISABILITIES

Updates
18.6.24. 7pm IST 
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA is back @ TUEM helping  this elderly Goan mother & her son who is suffering from disabilities, with their monthly needs, both in kind & monthly living expenses.
March 24 , their appeal for help went on social media and next day we responded with basic requirements and monthly expenses for the month .
April 24 we again sent their basic requirements & monthly expenses for the month.
May 24 we did not make it as there were many other important issues to take care off.
June 24 our team visited and provided basic requirements for may & June along with 2 months of expenses. 
The elderly MAI looks much relaxed & at peace as compared to the time when we meet her in March. 
It just gives all of us a sense of joy that we as an NGO are bringing little smiles to this elderly goan mother.
Her main worry was after she leaves this world who will take care of her son with disabilities.
That now has been laid to rest as we are committed to care for her son in our home once she leaves this world.
Usually after the 1st time of helping, the enthusiasm dies down and no one bothers to go back and check and see.
We @ Street Providence are now committed as long as this elderly mother is living to help her with her monthly living expenses and her dry ration kit.
Like this elderly poor goan mother, we are aware of many in 100's across all talukas of such poor goans suffering for want of food and help.
Some mothers have turned psychiatric and they have been admitted into our homes.
Celebrating International this day & that day is only for social media and a few likes & comments .
It's time to celebrate the other 364 days with such poor goan families as that is the really sense of whatever INTERNATIONAL DAY function is .
If you wish to adopt such poor goan elderly widows for a year atleast please let me know.
It's not expensive but it's a commitment to share your resources with a family who will bless you & your family spiritually.
We thank Mr Arturo Dsouza our volunteer for all the follow up and checking with this family month after month.
All querries strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
14Jun/24

HAS ATTACHED 2 CHARTS WHICH WILL ENABLE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE QUANTUM OF SICK PEOPLES WE CARE FOR IN OUR HOMES IN GOA & THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS

Updates
14.6.24. 8pm IST 
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA has attached 2 charts which will enable you to understand the quantum of sick people we care for in our homes in Goa & the transportation costs.
We have 2nd largest shelter home in Goa providing care for those with disabilities after  PROVEDORIA with 240 bedd capacity providing free rehabilitation & caring for poor goan people & the homeless  with all types of  disabilities & sicknesses.
At any point of time we have close to 110 to 125 persons with severe & chronic types of all  disabilities yet sorry to say ” HEALTH DEPARTMENT is not providing our homes the same facility which PROVEDORIA is enjoying “.
As a result our team is daily roaming around government hospitals ie both District hospitals , GMC & IPHB.
The Health Department is yet to reply to our letter written more than 3 months back asking for government doctors to visit out homes.
You can understand the frustrations & disappointing moments our team goes thru daily with all these sick people.
This is one of the primary reasons we have stopped taking admissions last few months resulting in the homeless in Goa piling up across major cities as well as in Government hospitals.
It's easy to call me / whatsapp me and say take this homeless man / woman into the home.
Do you even understand the troubles we go thru daily running around with them as most of the homeless carry along multiple sickness which need constant medical attention & care.
Daily, 3 – 4 drivers are on the road carrying sick patients up and down from all our homes which adds to our fuel costs and maintenance costs not to forget salaries and refreshments/ meals.
It's a non ending story 24*7*365 days.
All the data on these 2 sheets can be verified , as daily we upload on our face book page the no of inmates taken to hospitals with the pictures.
All data , prescription, medication is entered In a drive by the bank office team.
Without assured Government grants it's next to impossible to take in more homeless people. 
We thank our benefactors for the support but daily it's getting difficult and inflation is increasing our running costs.
We are at complete cross roads. 
☆ One : code of conduct slowed down all Government work,
☆ Second : summer heat made caused alot of trouble to the inmates ,
☆ Third : All sides expenses are rising
☆ Fourth : Doctors in all government hospitals are themselves over worked and stressed. 
We have close to 50 / 60 beds available to take in more homeless but government funding & medical support needs to be provided by the authorities.
Trust me, it's a nerve wrecking situation daily,  especially with sick and old homeless goans in our 11 homes and I have to keep an eye on the ever mounting expenses to be taken care off.
For those who we have refused admissions please understand the situations we are highliting and the complicated systems that we have to go through as all our homes are scattered in 5 talukas of Goa – both North & South.
All querries if any strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
13Jun/24

THANKS TO THE GOA STATE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ( RTO ) FOR ROAD TAX EXEMPTION ON OUR VEHICLES STARTING 1.4.24.

Updates
13.6.24  7pm. IST
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA thanks The GOA State Transport Department ( RTO ) headed by Minister  Mr Mauvin Godinho for road tax exemption on our vehicles starting 1.4.24.
It's a huge huge saving to get tax exemption from The Government of Goa towards our NGO.
Mr Minesh Tar , Asst Director , RTO, Mapusa has been a big support towards this tax exemption benefit as our NGO is registered in Bardez taluka.
Very often people donate their second hand bikes and cars to our NGO and we used to approach The RTO at Mapusa for the paperwork.
For those of you who know this office at Mapusa ”  it's always crowded “.
Moment you say NGO, officers in most departments look at you suspiciously and its understandable as today everyone claims to be an NGO.
Initially we had issues, but in due course of time after registering many two wheelers and many four wheelers, both new and second hand , our acquaintance with Asst Director Mr Tar got better and better.
We always had a support in The OSD to Transport Minister and that always quickened up our work.
For the amount of work we undertake which is always on the road, 4 wheelers are always needed.
From Jan 2024, we are in the process of acquiring through donations/ CSR close to 7 new four wheelers but the road tax was an issue.
We approached The Hon Transport Minister through the OSD who directed us to The Asst Director, Mr Tar who examined our papers and assured us that all vechiles bought in the NGO name will be road tax exempted.
No time wasting / no begging / no hanky panky but professional quick service.
Recently end March 24, we purchased an INSUZU frozen food truck which we were granted full road tax exemption.
Then late April 24 we purchased a Mahindra Scorpio which we were granted full road tax exemption.
And both these figures put togther are quite a substantial amount for which we are thankful to the Government of Goa @ The Transport Department. 
Usually one never hears of Small NGO like ours getting help from the Government as we are not politically connected to any party or any politician. 
But we are proud to state that alot of  departments @ Government of Goa , are supporting our NGO namely:
☆ Hon Governor of Goa ,
☆ CMO ,
☆ Goa Police ,
☆ Social Welfare ,
☆ Women & child ,
☆ Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers ,
☆ IPHB,
☆ Government hospitals ,
☆ Civil supplies,
☆ Mopa airport,
& now Tramsport Department.
Without Government support it's next to impossible to run so many complicated services @ Street Providence where our main focus is on :
》Shelter homes &
》Food banks.
I have two habits ie 
A. When ever any department goes out of their way to support our work towards homeless and the poor with disabilities 
” I MAKE IT A POINT TO HIGHLIGHT & THANK THE DEPARTMENT “.
B. But I also highlight and fight alot when officers in a certain department don't do justice to our NGO fully knowing we are doing a difficult service towards the poorest of the poor.
Last 3 months have been stressful & really difficult for all of us at Street Providence but this road tax exemption is the silver lining on the horizon which makes me belive ” Government of Goa, headed by The Hon CM & his ministers and Bureaucracy is doing something for the homeless, the hungry and those with disabilities at our NGO “.
But it takes alot of follow up, phone calls, running around, etc.
Everything sounds nice and good but belive me where ever we are or whatever benefit we get or got, has taken alot of hard work and convincing as well as proof to demonstrate that the work we undertake across Goa.
And last year we opened homes in Jharkhand & Manipur.
August we open open in South Maharashtra. 
Lots of hours on the road.
We do have problems and issues with certain departments but that is because of individual officers/ directors/ staff who are only looking for bribes and they come to office totally stressed and disturbed.
When any Government officer does not belive in humanity but only works for his / her salary then issues and harassment starts especially if you are an NGO.
But if you meet a kind hearted officer like Mr Minesh Tar & your papers are in order and work is there for all to see then you know the officer understands hunger and homeless basically HUMANITY.
Once again we are very thankful to 
The Transport Department headed by The Hon Minister Mr Mauvin Godinho as well as The Asst Director of Transport Mapusa Mr Minesh Tar for this support without any hassle.
No negative comments please as I am yet to meet both :
The Hon Transport Minister as well as 
The Asst Director of Transport , Mapusa
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages on 8380097564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes
8380097564 / 7020314848
12Jun/24

WE ARE STUCK UP FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH A HUGE NO. OF POOR HOMELESS GOANS IN OUR HOMES WHO ARE SICK & CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRE VISITS TO HOSPITALS.

Updates
12.6.24. 8pm.IST 
We @ Street Providence Goa are stuck up for the last 3 months with a huge no of poor homeless goans in our homes who are sick & continuesly require visits to government hospitals.
It's getting bad to worse as we are completely drained out & stressed in the summer heat which has slightly reduced due to the start of the monsoon.
Caring for those poor goans suffering from disabilities is turning into a huge nightmare.
Last full two months we have reduced our intake of homeless into our homes as a result one can see alot of homeless in cities and a sizeable no are occupying beds in government hospitals.
We had officially written & requested The Health Department for Government Doctors to visit our homes early February 2024.
But till date no reply.
Today our NGO has more psychiatric patients than PROVEDORIA , yet we are not given the same medical facilities as the health department gives to PROVEDORIA.
It's easy to request us to take the homeless from the streets but belive me it's not viable and feasible any more due to these reasons :

》 1. We have to pick them from the streets
》 2. Take them to hospitals, stand in line , pay their bills as non of them have valid ID.
》3. If admissions into hospitals for treatment is required we have to hire a caregiver which costs mone.
》4. Daily then we have to follow up on these patients in hospitals as Doctors keep calling.
》5. If medication is not provided free then purchase these medicines.
》6. If they die then expenses of the cremation we have to bear plus huge amount of Police paper wok.
At any point of time in the last 2 months we have 6 to 8 patients daily admitted into Government hospitals including IPHB.
Today as I write this post we have 12 Inmates from our homes admitted into GMC, IPHB & both DISTRICT HOSPITALS.
Plus Daily we take 6 , 8 , 10 patients for their monthly psychiatric checkups to IPHB from all our homes.
Everyday 4 am , 5 days a week one staff is in SSB GMC for appointment @ Neurology.
Daily 4 cars are these hospitals :
☆ District hospital Margao
☆ IPHB 
☆ Gmc 
☆ District hospital mapusa. Only with patients.
4 cars means 4 drivers and 6 to 8 care givers.
There is daily in GMC 9.30 am to 5.30 pm one full time staff with our patients either at OPD or in the ward.
One staff is daily at IPHB only taking patients brought by different drivers for their assessment.
For all this services we get a grant of :
A. Rs 2500/ Rs 4500 per women per month from WCD and
B. Rs 2500 per man per month for only one shelter home holding 10 men from Social Welfare Dept. 
And mind you we have close to 160+ poor goans and non goans suffering from mental disabilities and homeless.
We have another 23 patients in IPHB who are in need of care & rehabilitation who we need to take in.
We have been assured & promised by 
The Hon CM  that our grants would be increased at WCD & Social Welfare but I am still waiting.
WCD grants have been increased but due to code of Conduct the process slowed down.
Social Welfare dept has actually now been bifurcated into a new Dept called 
” Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities ” and no one here is aware of reality. 
Hon CM had requested not to shut the homes but it's not easy without assured funds and medical support.
It's been sad turning away many requests as we are unsure about the Government funds and taking in more people is not practical & viable at this moment.
For those who we have refused admissions in the last 3 months we apologize. 
But praying that things move quickly now that the code of Conduct has been lifted.
Belive me the situation in Goa for those who are poor and homeless either on the streets or in hospitals is very very depressing.
Goa is facing a huge no of homeless street people with 30% to 40% of them being goans.
But no one is addressing these issues.
As of today, We are having enough bed capacity to take in at any point of time in one go, say  50 to 60 homeless both men & women,  but the funding and the medical issues need to be addressed and sorted out well in advance .
Practically everyday we are running around to different hospitals as most of the homeless are senior citizens with all types of complicated chronic sickness.
All queries strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
12Jun/24

WE ARE STUCK UP FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH A HUGE NO. OF POOR HOMELESS GOANS IN OUR HOMES WHO ARE SICK & CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRE VISITS TO HOSPITALS.

Updates
12.6.24. 8pm.IST 
We @ Street Providence Goa are stuck up for the last 3 months with a huge no of poor homeless goans in our homes who are sick & continuesly require visits to government hospitals.
It's getting bad to worse as we are completely drained out & stressed in the summer heat which has slightly reduced due to the start of the monsoon.
Caring for those poor goans suffering from disabilities is turning into a huge nightmare.
Last full two months we have reduced our intake of homeless into our homes as a result one can see alot of homeless in cities and a sizeable no are occupying beds in government hospitals.
We had officially written & requested The Health Department for Government Doctors to visit our homes early February 2024.
But till date no reply.
Today our NGO has more psychiatric patients than PROVEDORIA , yet we are not given the same medical facilities as the health department gives to PROVEDORIA.
It's easy to request us to take the homeless from the streets but belive me it's not viable and feasible any more due to these reasons :

》 1. We have to pick them from the streets
》 2. Take them to hospitals, stand in line , pay their bills as non of them have valid ID.
》3. If admissions into hospitals for treatment is required we have to hire a caregiver which costs mone.
》4. Daily then we have to follow up on these patients in hospitals as Doctors keep calling.
》5. If medication is not provided free then purchase these medicines.
》6. If they die then expenses of the cremation we have to bear plus huge amount of Police paper wok.
At any point of time in the last 2 months we have 6 to 8 patients daily admitted into Government hospitals including IPHB.
Today as I write this post we have 12 Inmates from our homes admitted into GMC, IPHB & both DISTRICT HOSPITALS.
Plus Daily we take 6 , 8 , 10 patients for their monthly psychiatric checkups to IPHB from all our homes.
Everyday 4 am , 5 days a week one staff is in SSB GMC for appointment @ Neurology.
Daily 4 cars are these hospitals :
☆ District hospital Margao
☆ IPHB 
☆ Gmc 
☆ District hospital mapusa. Only with patients.
4 cars means 4 drivers and 6 to 8 care givers.
There is daily in GMC 9.30 am to 5.30 pm one full time staff with our patients either at OPD or in the ward.
One staff is daily at IPHB only taking patients brought by different drivers for their assessment.
For all this services we get a grant of :
A. Rs 2500/ Rs 4500 per women per month from WCD and
B. Rs 2500 per man per month for only one shelter home holding 10 men from Social Welfare Dept. 
And mind you we have close to 160+ poor goans and non goans suffering from mental disabilities and homeless.
We have another 23 patients in IPHB who are in need of care & rehabilitation who we need to take in.
We have been assured & promised by 
The Hon CM  that our grants would be increased at WCD & Social Welfare but I am still waiting.
WCD grants have been increased but due to code of Conduct the process slowed down.
Social Welfare dept has actually now been bifurcated into a new Dept called 
” Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities ” and no one here is aware of reality. 
Hon CM had requested not to shut the homes but it's not easy without assured funds and medical support.
It's been sad turning away many requests as we are unsure about the Government funds and taking in more people is not practical & viable at this moment.
For those who we have refused admissions in the last 3 months we apologize. 
But praying that things move quickly now that the code of Conduct has been lifted.
Belive me the situation in Goa for those who are poor and homeless either on the streets or in hospitals is very very depressing.
Goa is facing a huge no of homeless street people with 30% to 40% of them being goans.
But no one is addressing these issues.
As of today, We are having enough bed capacity to take in at any point of time in one go, say  50 to 60 homeless both men & women,  but the funding and the medical issues need to be addressed and sorted out well in advance .
Practically everyday we are running around to different hospitals as most of the homeless are senior citizens with all types of complicated chronic sickness.
All queries strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848