KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — A cold wave has swept through Taiwan, causing temperatures to plummet. The Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government (SOCBU, 高雄市社會局) on Wednesday (Dec. 18) visited the Fengshan Sports Park (鳳山運動園區) and Fengshan Transit Station (鳳山轉運站), delivering hot meals, coats, and heating packs to the homeless.
Bureau Director Chai Wan-fen (蔡宛芬) led a team from a homeless service center to express concern for the well-being of each homeless individual and remind them to dress warmly. She stated that in response to the increasing temperature differences between day and night, the bureau had proactively launched a cold weather care service. This initiative involves the center's outreach actions, such as delivering hot meals, warm clothing, and heating packs to areas where homeless individuals gather and encouraging temporary shelter acceptance.
As of Tuesday, Kaohsiung City had provided hot meals to 1,579 people, distributed cold-weather supplies to 271, and assisted 34 with temporary shelter. The bureau urged citizens to call the Samin Homeless Service Center (三民街友服務中心) at 07-3432263 or the Fengshan Homeless Service Center (鳳山街友服務中心) at 07-7190895 if they notice any urgent needs among the homeless. These efforts aim to safeguard the health and safety of the homeless community during this cold spell.