By Matters India Reporter
Chennai, June 9, 2026: The Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council’s Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has completed 12 houses for some of the state’s poorest Dalit families, providing permanent shelter to people who had been living in unsafe huts, temporary sheds and severely deteriorated homes.
The project, funded by CHARIS Singapore and implemented through the commission’s “Housing for the Homeless” initiative, benefited families in the dioceses of Chengalpattu and Vellore and the archdioceses of Pondicherry-Cuddalore and Madras-Mylapore.
The commission said the project targeted what it calls the “Anawim of Yahweh,” a biblical term referring to “the humble poor who place their complete trust in God.”
In the Indian context, the commission said the term is “closely related to the state of the marginalised ones due to caste discrimination” and includes members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
“The Housing Scheme for the Homeless is a vital initiative of the TNBC SC/ST Commission aimed at ensuring safe, secure, and dignified shelter for families who lack a permanent home,” the report said.
Families were identified through field visits and recommendations from diocesan directors, village leaders and parish staff. Priority was given to families living in neglected settlements, widows, single mothers, elderly people, persons with disabilities and households experiencing extreme poverty.
“Our beneficiaries were the forgotten ones—hidden in the shadows of extreme poverty and inhuman conditions,” the report said. “They did not know such help existed, nor did they ask anyone for it. We went in search of these genuine and blessed ones and chose them first.”
Capuchin Father Nithiya Sagayam, secretary of the commission, said the beneficiaries were deliberately chosen from some of Tamil Nadu’s most neglected villages and hamlets. “The families selected for this program come from some of the smallest villages and hamlets in Tamil Nadu, places where there are no hospitals, no schools and often no basic government facilities,” he told Matters India.
Among the beneficiaries was Sekar of Pavunjur village in Chengalpattu Diocese. According to the report, his family lived in a tarpaulin shelter and sought refuge in neighbors’ homes during heavy rains. His daughter, Latha, dropped out of school because of poverty.
Another recipient, widow Nirmala of Nugumbal village, struggled to support her family while spending much of her limited income on medical treatment and her children’s education. Her hut was described as unsafe during storms and monsoon rains.
The project also assisted families facing health crises and disabilities. Joseph Sahayaraj of the Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese was unable to work regularly because of chronic kidney illness, while another beneficiary family included visually impaired and physically disabled members living in severe poverty.
“In most social work, attention is given to those who knock on the door seeking assistance. Our approach was different. We went in search of those who would never knock on the door,” Father Sagayam told Matters India.
“These families are overlooked not because their needs are small, but because their poverty and exclusion are so deep. They are the people most in need of support, dignity and hope,” he added.
Bishop Jeevanandam Amalanathan of Kumbakonam, chairman of the commission, and Capuchin Father Nithiya Sagayam, its secretary, said the initiative reflects the Church’s commitment to “the least, the lost, and the last.”
“This house stands as a symbol of collective compassion and shared responsibility towards the homeless and marginalized,” they wrote in the report.
The commission said the new homes provide more than physical shelter, helping restore dignity, stability and hope for vulnerable families. It added that many beneficiaries previously lived in places lacking road access, drinking water, toilets and sanitation facilities.
“These homes are not just shelters — they are symbols of God’s compassion,” the report said. “They stand as living testimonies of your love reaching the most forgotten corners of society.”
(Photo supplied)