Centre for homeless families is in politics, Senate reacts
‘Mladá fronta Dnes’-Prague, 4th June 2009
The ‘Southern City’, Prague – Senators in the Foreign Affairs Committee, according to the chairman Jiri Dienstbier, will try to reverse the decision of the Prague 11 Council to close down a centre for homeless mothers with children in the Southern City, because foreign donors who had contributed 25 mil CZK to the project have protested that their investment is being wasted. Karel Schwarzenberg, the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, has labelled it as theft. “It is a good old Czech habit simply to steal it,” said Schwarzenberg.
“First of all, I am astonished that a Senate Committee is dealing with something like this without inviting representatives of the City Council. Secondly, the committee clearly doesn’t have all the information. And, thirdly, it is trying to interfere in the working of a local council,” said Jiri Janecek, councillor in the City and Prague 11 Councils, (Civic Democratic Party).
“The centre was run by the Walking Together civic association. Their lease was terminated last November, because the council wants to turn the building into a kindergarten. If we do not deal with the shortage, 400 children will not have a place in kindergarten,” said Dalibor Mlejnsky, Mayor of Prague 11, (Civic Democratic Party).
The local authority offered the association a house in Stochova Street, where, according to Milena Svobodova, director of the centre for the homeless, an office for the social workers and one flat could be set up.
Prior the to closure of the centre there had been several demonstrations, two petitions, assurances from Pavel Bem, Mayor of the City of Prague, and interventions from some government ministers.