(Dan Tri) - Nestled on Ly Thuong Kiet Street (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), the house with the words "Tolerant Saigon" has become a place to take care of many lonely elderly people without homes or shelters.
Shelter for the homeless elderly
After selling all the lottery tickets in the morning, Ms. Bui Thi Khanh (born in 1956) returned to the house named "Tolerant Saigon". Ms. Khanh said that this place is not her home, but her family. It is this place that has taken her in, transformed her from a person who had to sleep on the street, to a person who has a place to return to morning and evening.
Ms. Khanh used to sleep on the street because she didn't have money to rent a house (Photo: Moc Khai).
"Before, I worked as a worker, then a janitor, and was able to rent a house to live on. But when I was almost 60 years old, my health declined, and I could only sell lottery tickets. There were times when I didn't have enough money to rent a house, so I had to sleep on the street.
Luckily, I was accepted by "Tolerant Saigon". Since then, I have been living here with my old friends, without worrying about accommodation anymore. Up to now, I have lived here for nearly 3 years", Ms. Khanh said.
Every morning, Mrs. Khanh wakes up and goes out to sell lottery tickets to earn some extra money. At noon, she returns to the inn to have lunch with everyone.
"We split into groups, taking turns cleaning the house and cooking. Every day, we eat lunch and dinner together. On days when donors give us boxed lunches, vermicelli soup, etc., we don't have to cook (laughs)," said Ms. Khanh.
Mrs. Khanh could not hold back her emotions when talking about the place that took her in. She repeatedly said that this place is her family, the people living here are her brothers and sisters.
Saigon Inn is tolerant (Photo: Moc Khai).
In front of the house, Mr. Sanh - a man with wrinkled skin and hands without enough fingers - was busy pumping up a tire for a passerby. Mr. Sanh, who is disabled, has also lived at this inn for many years.
He doesn't speak clearly and can't remember how old he is, but he gets along with everyone and says he's happy to live at the inn. Every day, in addition to helping with general work at the inn, he also pumps up tires for free for passersby.
"Uncle Sanh pumps tires for everyone. He accepts as much as people give him. It's okay if he doesn't send money," said Mrs. Khanh.
Mr. Sanh pumps tires for free for passersby (Photo: Moc Khai).
Eat together, work together, take care of each other
Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Mr. Nguyen Dac Quy - the person responsible for operating the "Tolerant Saigon" inn - said that this inn belongs to the Crescent Moon Fund, established to support the elderly over 60 years old, homeless, without relatives, and without support.
The inn is different from other models of homes for the elderly, because it creates conditions for healthy elderly people to work to support themselves.
Living in "tolerant Saigon", those who can draw can draw, those who can sell lottery tickets can still sell them every day, those who work as motorbike taxi drivers can still maintain their jobs. Income from private work will be managed by the grandparents themselves.
"Currently, the inn has 23 elderly people living there. It can be said that this place is like a "zero-dong" inn, so that everyone living here can work with peace of mind. In addition, when living together, the elderly will take turns working to serve themselves.
A typical example is Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tan (born in 1960). Previously, Mr. Tan worked as a motorbike taxi driver, but due to the development of technology-based motorbike taxis, his income has decreased. Here, when we need to deliver goods, deliver documents, or do paperwork, we can ask him to do the work and send him the expenses," said Mr. Quy.
"9 wishes" placed in front of the door of the Saigon Tolerant Inn (Photo: Moc Khai).
Mr. Quy said that because of operating under such a model, "Tolerant Saigon" can only accept elderly people who are still healthy, want to work and can take care of themselves.
In addition, the inn opened a grapefruit stall for the old people to look after and provided motorbikes for rent to help the old people have more money to take care of their lives.
Mr. Quy also said that the inn supports the elderly with lunch and dinner. Previously, the inn had people to cook and clean. However, after calculating, the management board decided to let the elderly divide the work among themselves. The cost of cooking will be paid to the elderly.
"I think that by doing so, the elderly will have more income, more responsibility, and a sense of community when living together. Similarly, in case someone has health problems and has to go to the hospital, the elderly living together will take care of them and worry about them.
Each person will have a notebook, recording the number of days they have taken care of the people they live with. When they fall ill, they will also be taken care of by the people they live with," said Mr. Quy.
Mr. Quy handed over documents to Mr. Tan (Photo: Moc Khai).
Mr. Quy also confided that when elderly people live together, it is inevitable that they will "have arguments". However, working together, caring for and looking after each other, the grandparents only "argue first, laugh later", not holding anything in mind.
Mr. Nguyen Van Dung (born in 1957) - a man without wife, children, or home, who has lived in "tolerant Saigon" for more than 3 years - said that this inn has helped him and many other elderly people overcome difficulties and adversities.
"Every day, we work and eat together as a family. All the sadness and worries of the past seem to disappear," said Mr. Dung.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/doi-song/chuyen-thu-vi-ve-xom-tro-sai-gon-bao-dung-ai-khong-co-nha-den-o-mien-phi-20250303190309908.htm
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