Smell of stench, leaking water and cockroaches from all sides - this is the terrible reality of Moshe (65) from Safed • "We need volunteers, we have the power to help the destitute"
Moshe's apartment in Safed.
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Photo:
David Cohen / Ginny
This story could have ended up as another unnecessary death, as another statistical number of homeless people whose neighbors complained of a pungent odor rising from his apartment.
Another story about how the rescue forces who were called to the scene broke into the apartment and found a body that had already begun to rot.
But this time the story has a different end - as part of his social activities in a family purity organization that helps volunteers and lonely people in Safed, Yossi Dahan has recently arrived at the apartment of Moshe (65), who lives in a central location in the city.
He found a childless man there, living in subhuman conditions as he defecated, in a leaking apartment, the entire floor of which was covered with piles of garbage and next to it were cockroaches of various kinds.
"We come to many houses of the destitute and lonely and in this framework I have seen many difficult cases, but I have never seen such a shocking case," says Yossi Dahan.
"A resident of the city who discovered him a few months ago turned to me and saw that his condition had not changed even though the authorities were aware of his condition. We understand the burden of welfare referrals and the difficulty in this specific case, but no grandson will let his grandfather live like that. ".
Since meeting him, Dahan has been bringing food to the elderly several times a day in an attempt to improve his health and be his companion.
He is now addressing the public and seeking to recruit volunteers to help the elderly and make his residence worthy of human habitation.
"We need 40 volunteers from Safed and the surrounding area to clean the house, paint it and move furniture that will contribute to it," Dahan adds.
"We also want to run a chain of volunteer shifts that will bring him food several times a day and have him company."
The Safed municipality stated that the case is known to the welfare department and that about two months ago, treatment was performed in his apartment.
"In recent months, assistance has been offered on many levels including housing, but the senior has vehemently refused any assistance," it said.
It was also reported that "in recent months, multidisciplinary discussions have taken place that at this stage drastic moves should be avoided, including forcing him out of his home. Professional reports indicate that this could lead to a real deterioration in his condition.
These days, additional options for action are being examined, and in accordance with "professionals' reports, it will be decided how to act."
Dahan concludes: "We call on everyone to be vigilant because this is not an isolated case. There are many helpless individuals. It is in our power and unity to help them. Welfare is not always to blame or able to help. This is where the faithful citizen came into the picture. After the smell of stench leaked from their apartment. "
Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to contact Yossi Dahan: 054-4691298.