Mon Sep 22 00:22:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
The Chennai Corporation is planning a second survey to identify homeless individuals in the city who were missed in the initial count. This is being done to help them access shelter and government welfare programs before the Northeast monsoon season begins. Many homeless individuals lack essential identification documents like Aadhaar cards, hindering their access to benefits. A homeless man from Royapettah is appealing for housing to support his children’s education. NGOs highlight the vulnerability of specific homeless populations (elderly, children, women, disabled) and advocate for better coordination between government departments to provide adequate support and access to essential services.
**News Article:**
**Chennai to Conduct New Survey for Homeless Ahead of Monsoon**
**CHENNAI, September 22, 2025** – The Chennai Corporation announced plans for a second survey aimed at identifying homeless individuals within the city who were not included in the previous census. The initiative is designed to connect these vulnerable populations with essential shelter and government aid programs before the onset of the Northeast monsoon season.
Officials at a recent meeting in Ripon Buildings stated that volunteers will be deployed to areas known to house homeless individuals to identify those missed in the initial count, which identified over 13,000 people. A significant challenge remains the lack of essential identification documents, such as Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and ration cards, which are necessary to access government welfare schemes.
“Many homeless residents have demanded houses,” said a corporation official.
R. Manikandan, a homeless man from Royapettah, pleaded for housing in his neighborhood to ensure his children’s continued education. “Two of my three children are going to school in Royapettah. They miss school during rains as their books are drenched…I tried getting rental accommodation, but failed,” he said.
City Health Officer Jagadeesan affirmed the Corporation’s commitment to assisting homeless residents in obtaining necessary identification documents, thereby enabling access to broader government support, including housing initiatives.
NGOs have lauded the effort but stress the urgent need for comprehensive support. Vanessa Peter, Founder of IRCDUC, highlighted the particularly vulnerable position of specific groups within the homeless population. An assessment in 2024 found nearly 1,000 elderly individuals and over 1,400 children living on the streets. She emphasized, “We have seen elderly persons, pregnant women, children, and persons with mental illness in extremely vulnerable situations without any proper shelter. Their situations become worse during extreme heat and rain.” She also mentioned the struggle for children missing school due to rain damage to school books and uniform.
“To further strengthen the intervention for persons in homeless situations, there is a need for setting up a platform for convergence of schemes and coordination between different departments to ensure access to entitlements,” Peter added. The survey is expected to begin immediately.
First Piper 