By DESIREE TRESA GASPER 
From Star Online

SEGAMAT : About 20 residents of a shelter home may not have a roof over their heads soon, as the building is being put up for auction.

T. Moganeswry, 38, caretaker of the Selva Home for Special Ones in Buloh Kasap, near here, said the house owner had spent a lot on medical bills and died of cancer last year without settling the bank loan. “Now, we have to pay the bank or lose everything,” she sobbed, adding that the home was due to go under the hammer on Sept 1.

The shelter home houses residents, aged two to 36 years, with cerebal palsy, Down Syndrome, mental illness and some who are crippled, blind or deaf.

“They are all my children and since I received the letter from the bank, I have lost a lot of sleep thinking off the worst when our home is auctioned off,” said Moganeswry. “They were abandoned by their families. If we are forced to vacate, they’ll have nowhere else to go,” she said. “I have tried to seek assistance from the Welfare Department and various organisations and although some have agreed to help, they have not come back to me yet,” she said.

Moganeswry said most of the occupants at the home were still oblivious to their fate. “They still laugh and play like it is a normal day but only we understand the seriousness of the situation,” she said, adding that the home had about nine volunteers.

The home’s founder, K. Selvarajah, 36, said he started the place to help those who were helpless. “I hope that someone will help as we have put in a lot of money, love and effort to make this a happy home for everyone here,” he said.

Those interested in donating to the home, could call 07-944092.