Homeless Elderly Woman Sleeps on the Street: What the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Says

A photo of an elderly woman has been circulating on Facebook for several days, accompanied by a caption stating that she is homeless and sleeping on the street. The user who posted the picture claims that the elderly woman previously lived at an address on Shinarar Street in the Ajapnyak administrative district of Yerevan but has been removed from her home for unknown reasons.

“I called the police and asked them to accommodate the elderly woman. They said they are aware of the situation, but the woman does not want to go to the department serving their area and file a complaint. They cannot force her, I think she is just scared,” wrote the user.

Today, Haykakan Zhamanak visited the mentioned address at Tigran Mets 18, but the elderly woman was not in the area at the time. After inquiring, it became clear that some residents in that segment already recognize her, having frequently seen the elderly woman around. According to one of the cleaners working in the shopping center, she has seen the woman frequently moving from one bench to another, usually carrying several bags. “I probably have seen her for about a month, but I haven’t seen her today. Passersby give her change and food,” said the interlocutor.

The press secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, Zara Manucharyan, stated that both yesterday and today, social workers from the Unified Social Service of the Republic of Armenia, along with staff from the homeless shelter, including a psychologist and a healthcare worker, have visited the woman. Manucharyan confirmed that the elderly woman was offered to move to a care facility or a shelter. “For two days, the same efforts have been ongoing, but the woman refuses to move. Naturally, we cannot ensure her relocation without her consent,” she explained.

The press secretary noted that today, the social workers from the Unified Social Service will also visit the woman’s last known residence, where they will try to speak with her relatives. “In any case, the ministry is willing to take care of the woman and provide her with shelter. We hope to organize this process as soon as possible,” she added.