Homeless to redeem themselves as hoteliers

By Lee Kyung-min

Twenty homeless people will redeem themselves as hoteliers, Seoul City government said Sunday.

The city, in collaboration with the Westin Chosun and Silla hotels, will select 10 men and 10 women residing in Seongdong-gu, Eastern Seoul.

This move by the city is a follow-up on the social services program “Support for the homeless” October last year.

Managers of Chosun Hotel will instruct the program.

They will train the selected people for 10 days to make them fit for employment.

The applicants should be healthy with strong will to work, a city official said.

Their identification should be checked out by official registration, and delinquent borrower will be excluded, he added.

Twofold sessions are to be provided: learning theories and field training.

The employees-in-waiting will prepare themselves by the programs given: managing emotions, rebuilding self-confidence, cleaning, handling tools, waxing floor, operating dish washers.

The working hours will be Monday to Friday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.

The payment will be 1.4 million won ($1,260).

Chosun said it will carry out the second program in the coming autumn.

“One-off charity has been common, but long-term employment by Hotel is the first in its kind,” said Kim Gun-tae, a manager at Seoul Self-Help Center.

“I hope it lays the groundwork for the homeless who are struggling to get back in the society,” he added.