The Kėdainiai homeless shelter faces more significant challenges during payment days than in harsh winter cold, as they see an increase in intoxicated individuals and related incidents.
In Kėdainiai, Lithuania, the local homeless shelter has noted that its critical time occurs from the 10th to the 20th of each month, coinciding with various benefit and subsidy payments rather than during winter cold spells. Rūta Chmieliauskienė explains that during these payment days, the shelter sees an increased number of intoxicated individuals and cases of violence, necessitating more involvement from law enforcement.
The shelter is located on the first floor of a building on Šėtos Street and offers both temporary accommodation and housing services. It is designed to cater to a mix of individuals, where some choose to stay for the night while others reside there more permanently. The facility has a designated temporary accommodation space that can house up to six individuals, and it is currently serving on average five people each night.
With conditions fluctuating based on pay cycles rather than weather extremes, staff at the shelter are focused on managing the realities of dependence on social benefits, which affects the behavior of some users. This article sheds light on a significant yet overlooked aspect of social support services and its impact on local communities in Lithuania, especially as the shelter navigates providing necessary support amidst fluctuating demand levels.
