A new home has been established for an 80-year-old man living in a greenhouse, thanks to the warm support of the community. This initiative, which began with a welfare survey by administrative agencies, has become a model of public-private collaboration to assist vulnerable housing populations.
On October 23, the town of Jido in Shinan County held a ceremony to welcome the elderly man into his new home, attended by local community leaders and members of the Shinan County Community Welfare Council.
The project originated from a welfare visit team’s survey of basic livelihood recipients in Jido. During this survey, the team discovered the elderly man living in a greenhouse after leaving his previous rental housing. His lack of a stable living environment highlighted the urgent need for improved housing conditions.
In response, Jido selected the elderly man as a case management target in collaboration with the Shinan County Senior Health Department and discussed specific support measures during a community welfare council meeting.
Recognizing that merely providing essential goods would not resolve the fundamental housing issue, Jido pursued a plan to construct a new home by linking public and private welfare resources.
As a result, a total budget of 18 million won was secured to build a 7-pyeong (approximately 23.1 square meters) modular home.
Funding for the project included 8.5 million won from Shinan County, 5 million won from the Shinan County Welfare Foundation, 2.5 million won from the Korea Social Welfare Council, and 2 million won from donations to the 'Jido Love Sharing Angels' initiative by the Jido Community Welfare Council.
The combination of public support and donations from welfare organizations and local residents made it possible to provide substantial assistance to vulnerable housing populations.
Additionally, Park Kyung-woo, the representative of Myungsung General Trading, contributed his skills to aid in the housing project as a volunteer.
Beyond just providing a new home, ongoing support for essential living items has also been arranged to ensure the elderly man can live comfortably.
The Shinan County Community Welfare Council provided a heated bed valued at 700,000 won, while the Jido Community Welfare Council delivered five 10-kilogram bags of rice, toilet paper, detergent, and other essential supplies.
This initiative, which involved community participation from housing provision to improving living conditions, is significant for identifying and connecting vulnerable populations to practical support.
Notably, the collaboration of administrative field surveys, case management, financial support from private donors, and the skills of local residents has been praised for effectively addressing housing issues using limited welfare resources.
Kim Yong-beom, chair of the Jido Community Welfare Council, stated, "It is meaningful to gather the warm hearts of the community to provide a home for the elderly man," adding, "We will continue to actively identify neighbors in welfare blind spots and practice sharing."
Song Hyun-jung, the mayor of Jido, expressed happiness in providing a warm and comfortable home for the elderly man, stating, "This project is the result of collaboration among the administration, the community welfare council, welfare organizations, and donors." He emphasized, "We will continue to actively identify neighbors in need and strengthen public-private cooperation to build a comprehensive welfare safety net that leaves no resident behind."
The Happy Home project serves as a case study for improving living conditions for vulnerable elderly populations facing housing crises, and it is expected to inform similar housing welfare initiatives in the future.
Meanwhile, Jido is focused on identifying residents in welfare blind spots through its welfare visit team and community welfare council, implementing tailored welfare projects that link public support with private donations. The town plans to enhance on-site support for vulnerable housing populations, including elderly individuals living alone.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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