Denied shelter & safety: The struggles of Delhi’s homeless population

As Delhi’s winter chill takes hold, a harsh reality emerges in the capital’s streets. The city, known for its sprawling urban landscape and bustling life, hides a darker truth: a growing number of people are forced to live on the roads, battling the bitter cold with little more than a few ragged blankets. The government’s claim that sufficient shelter homes are available seems to stand in stark contrast to the experiences of those who are still out in the open, vulnerable to the sharp drop in temperatures that this season brings.

Rekha Devi, 38-year-old, sits on a dusty patch of ground beside a busy road in Nizamuddin, Delhi, holding her four children tightly as the cold wind sweeps through the street. Her face is etched with exhaustion, and her eyes reflect a sorrow that words can scarcely describe. Her youngest, barely a year old, is wrapped in a thin shawl, while her other children two boys and a girl huddle together for warmth. Nearby, her husband, Satish, works tirelessly, picking up scrap from the roadside and selling it to make a few rupees to feed his family. Yet, no matter how hard they work, their reality remains unchanged: they are homeless, living in the harshest conditions imaginable.

“There is a cold like never before, and we have been living on the roads for months now. This winter is making everything even harder. We lie awake at night, shivering, and honestly feel like we might die here any time. We came here from Bihar hoping for a better future, but now we are invisible, as if no one sees us or cares. I have tried to get us into a shelter, but they say they won’t take families with young children,” Devi tells  Media India Group.

Many shelter homes in Delhi are reportedly refusing entry to families with small children, leaving them with nowhere to turn during the harsh winter months. According to those affected, the shelters cite a rule that prohibits admitting families with young children, claiming that the presence of children disturbs other residents. This policy has forced many families, already struggling to survive on the streets, to endure the biting cold without any refuge.

“We went to several shelters, but they all turned us away because of our children. They told us the children would make too much noise and disturb others. But where else are we supposed to go? We are desperate, and it feels like no one cares,” Devi adds.

This exclusionary practice is a harsh reality for many homeless families in the city. While shelters are meant to provide relief and safety, these rules create an added barrier for families who are already vulnerable, leaving them exposed to the harsh conditions of life on the streets.

Devi and her husband moved to Delhi searching for work, dreaming of a better life for their children. Instead, they found themselves struggling on the streets, their hopes slowly fading with each passing day.

The situation is even more challenging for migrant families in Delhi, as they face additional barriers to accessing shelter homes. Many shelter homes refuse entry to families without valid identification documents such as Aadhaar cards or other government-issued IDs. This requirement leaves many migrants stranded, as they often do not possess these documents, especially if they have recently moved to the city.

Furthermore, heightened scrutiny to identify Bangladeshi immigrants has led to stricter entry rules at shelter homes. This has resulted in genuine homeless individuals being denied access, even when they desperately need refuge.

“We don’t have an Aadhaar card because we just moved here. When we went to the shelter, they told us they couldn’t let us in without it. I tried explaining that we’re new to the city and haven’t had the chance to get our documents, but they wouldn’t listen. Now, we are left with no choice but to stay on the streets. It is so cold at night, and it’s not safe at all. Every day feels like a fight to survive,” Ramesh, a migrant worker, tells Media India Group.

For migrant families, these policies have compounded their struggles, forcing them to live on the streets during one of the harshest winters in recent years. Many feel caught between bureaucracy and survival, with no clear path to relief.

The absence of comprehensive data on shelter-less people in Delhi is a template example of systemic violence against the marginalised and the collapse of housing policies too. The Census Survey 2011 estimates only around 47,000 homeless people in Delhi but activists claim that the figure is no less than around two lakh individuals at least. The 198 shelter homes, or rain baseras, cater to barely 19,000 people. In July, 2020, Delhi State Legal Services Authority, on directions of Delhi High Court, submitted a report on the conditions of shelter homes which highlighted their below-satisfactory conditions. Those who cannot afford a permanent dwelling with basic minimum amenities are barely able to access and use transit accommodation too.

Homelessness, or the other side of housing, is not a new phenomenon either. From 2001 to 2011, there has been a nearly 36 pc increase in urban homeless households in India.

Many elderly individuals in Delhi are also suffering on the streets, with some taking refuge under flyovers to escape the biting cold. Despite the availability of shelter homes, they are often denied entry.

“They told me I couldn’t stay because they can’t take care of old people like me. The shelter home said I should go to an old age home, but I don’t even know where that is or how to get in. We are abandoned—not just by our children, but by society as well. My wife is sick, and this cold is making her worse every day. She shivers all night, and with the rain soaking through everything, it feels like death is just around the corner. At our age, we don’t have much time left, but no one seems to care. All we want is a little warmth, a place to rest, and to feel human again, even for a moment,” Rajesh, a 68-year-old man who has been surviving under a flyover near ITO for more than a year tells Media India Group.

These senior citizens, already struggling with poor health and limited mobility, find themselves in an even more precarious position. Without proper care or protection, living under flyovers exposes them to severe weather, traffic hazards, and safety risks. The lack of specialised support in shelter homes leaves them without viable options, forcing them to endure the harsh realities of life on the streets with little hope for relief.

The shelter home in Jama Masjid, has denied the claims that it turns away families with children or elderly individuals. According to shelter officials, they have always welcomed families, including those with young children and senior citizens. However, they maintain a strict policy regarding identification documents.

“It is not true that we reject families or elderly people. We take in everyone who needs shelter, but we do require an Aadhaar card or some form of identification. It’s for safety and verification purposes,”  an official from the shelter home  tells Media India Group.

The situation inside many of Delhi’s shelter homes is not much better, as even those fortunate enough to secure a bed are still left to endure severe hardships during the winter. While these shelters provide a roof, they lack basic facilities like heaters or warm water to protect people from the freezing cold.

“I thought coming to the shelter would give me some relief from the cold, but it is just as bad here. We are all packed into small rooms, and there is no heater to keep us warm. The water is freezing, and even though we have blankets, they aren’t enough to keep out the chill. I lie awake all night, shivering, and wonder how much longer I can survive like this. I have seen many people come here looking for safety, but all they get is a roof with no warmth. We were hoping for some comfort, at least a hot meal or warm water, but it is not like that. Every day feels like a struggle against the cold. We are grateful to have a place to sleep, but it is still not enough to protect us from this brutal winter,” Humaira Ahmad, a woman staying at a shelter in Jama Masjid tells Media India Group.

Despite being inside, these individuals still face a harsh reality, with overcrowded rooms, inadequate bedding, and a lack of proper sanitation. For many, the shelters offer no more comfort than the streets, as the struggle for warmth and survival continues within their walls.

In 2017, Imran Hussain, the then-Environment Minister in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, issued a directive to ensure electric heaters were provided at all night shelters and to security guards at government offices during the cold winter months. In a letter to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Hussain emphasised the need for non-biomass heating facilities, urging them to provide electrical heaters to prevent the burning of biomass for warmth. He specifically noted that these heaters should be available at all night shelters to ensure the safety and comfort of the homeless population during the harsh winter nights.

However, despite the order, this directive was never implemented. The DPCC failed to pass on the instructions to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), leaving residents of homeless shelters to endure the severe cold without adequate heating. As a result, many homeless individuals, already vulnerable in the freezing temperatures, were left to struggle through the winter without the promised relief. The lack of corrective measures by DUSIB further compounded the suffering of those relying on these shelters for warmth and safety.

Delhi has approximately 343 night shelters with a total capacity of 20,264 beds. However, a survey conducted by Shahri Adhikar Manch: Begharon Ke Sath, a coalition of NGOs working with the homeless, revealed a stark disparity. Their headcount survey found around 300,000 homeless people in Delhi, leaving over 200,000 individuals without shelter during the harsh winter months. This significant gap underscores the inadequate provision of shelter for the city’s homeless population.