WILLEMSTAD – MFK Member of Parliament Maria Nita is asking the government to disclose how many people in Curaçao are homeless or lack stable housing, arguing that the problem extends beyond people visibly living on the streets.
Ahead of World Homeless Day on October 10, Nita submitted 13 questions to Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca under Article 96 of Parliament's Rules of Order.
One of her main concerns is whether the government actually knows the scale of homelessness in Curaçao.
Nita wants the minister to provide figures covering the past five years so Parliament can determine whether the number of people without stable housing is increasing, decreasing or remaining relatively unchanged.
She is also asking what definition the government uses to classify someone as homeless.
According to Nita, homelessness should not be limited to people sleeping on the street. It can also include people who temporarily stay with relatives, friends or acquaintances and repeatedly move from one place to another because they have no permanent home of their own.
The MP wants to know whether such people are included in official government statistics.
Nita is also seeking a demographic profile of Curaçao's homeless population, including information about age, gender, family and social circumstances and the principal reasons people lose stable housing.
She specifically asks the government to examine the role played by poverty, unemployment, family problems, mental health issues, addiction and the lack of affordable housing.
The questions come as World Homeless Day draws international attention to people without safe and stable housing and to policies aimed at preventing homelessness.
Nita argues that Curaçao needs reliable information before effective policy can be developed.
“World Homeless Day is an important moment to draw attention to the reality of people who do not have a safe home. But attention to this problem cannot remain limited to one day a year,” Nita stated in her letter.
She said Curaçao needs to understand the size of the problem, who is affected and where additional assistance is needed.
The MP has requested written answers from America-Francisca.