The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will set up a shelter for the homeless in the capital in addition to Anjung Singgah provided by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the homeless home would be ready by year end.

"We may buy four shophouses in Lorong Haji Taib to be turned into a shelter," he told reporters after presenting cash aid and essential items to 500 recipients comprising hardcore poor, orphans, single mothers, physically challenged people, and senior citizens, here Saturday.

On his meeting with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating soup kitchens on Tuesday, Tengku Adnan said it was aimed at clearing the air over his earlier statements and discussing more suitable locations for the NGOs to carry out community activities.

"I appreciate the NGOs' effort in providing food to the homeless and in fact, I have been contributing rice to the soup kitchen in Jalan Imbi," he added.

Last Thursday, Tengku Adnan said soup kitchens would no longer be allowed to operate within a two-km radius in the city centre with immediate effect to clean up the city of vagrants and homeless people.