Semi-nomadic families, including Narikuravas who often take refuge beneath statues along Marina Beach, are set to get a night shelter near the Anna Swimming Pool at Navalar Nagar in Triplicane. The shelter is expected to be ready by December 25.

Built at a cost of ?86 lakh, the 2,100 sq ft shelter can accommodate up to 80 people. It will be equipped with fans, RO drinking water facilities, toilets, mattresses, and a children’s playground. It is among the few shelters in Chennai designed to accommodate all genders and age groups, instead of catering to a single target group.

“With the upcoming months being colder, we decided to accommodate all genders and age groups rather than focusing on one category. During the daytime, the families usually move around the city selling beads or accessories they make, so the shelter is primarily needed at night,” said a senior civic official.

Overall maintenance and hygiene will be managed by a non-governmental organisation. There are also plans to provide food through a tie-up with a food service provider catering to civic-run schools by early next year, officials said.

While the shelter will initially house the nomadic community, the civic body plans to build another shelter for the rest of the homeless population living along the beach. A recent survey identified 215 homeless people along Marina Beach, including individuals living alone and families.

The survey classified the homeless population into three categories: semi-nomadic groups, beach stall workers, and those who work elsewhere but sleep on the beach. Plans are underway to build a larger shelter that can accommodate all homeless individuals living along the beachfront.

The decision to locate the shelter close to the beach was guided by a joint survey conducted earlier this year, which identified over 13,500 homeless individuals across nearly 2,900 locations in Chennai. One of the key recommendations was to build shelters within 2–3 km of where homeless people stay.

“Many earn a living by selling handmade items. Building shelters close to their work locations helps them sustain their livelihoods,” said a social work academic.

A beneficiary at a shelter for destitute elderly women shared that she travels nearly 20 km daily to sell flower garlands near a temple, as she could not find accommodation closer to her workplace.

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