‘It’s an emergency’: Homelessness on the rise in Hong Kong

In one of many world’s costliest cities, the variety of individuals with no residence to name their very own is hovering.

Hong Kong, China – In an underpass within the central Hong Kong district of Blissful Valley, Michael sits at a desk, sorting leftover meals from takeaway containers he finds in garbage bins.

The odor of rotting meals fills the air as he opens every container. No matter he considers suitable for eating shall be his subsequent meal.

Behind him are all of the possessions he owns: a mattress, a suitcase, and an workplace desk and chair. These are issues different individuals threw away — gadgets that are actually valuable to him.

He has lived within the pedestrian tunnel for 4 years.

“There are numerous mosquitoes and bedbugs. You may see there are such a lot of. And I’m getting fungal infections,” Michael, who requested to be recognized by a pseudonym, informed Al Jazeera.

“I used to reside on the opposite facet of Hong Kong however I got here right here, after my belongings have been taken.”

ImpactHK founder Jeffrey Rotmeyer says the variety of ladies sleeping tough has doubled for the reason that pandemic [Bertha Wang/Al Jazeera]

In Tai Kok Tsui, ImpactHK, a charity which helps individuals experiencing homelessness, welcomes a whole bunch of individuals into considered one of its neighborhood centres, providing them contemporary garments, sizzling meals, and an opportunity to attach with social staff.

“Each evening on the streets is an emergency. This can be a very rich metropolis — however one in 5 at this second are experiencing meals insecurity,” ImpactHK founder Jeffrey Rotmeyer informed Al Jazeera.

“These are scary instances. We’ve seen the share of females on the road double [since the pandemic], and we’ve seen a couple of 25 p.c improve total. And we're seeing homeless communities pop up in new areas.”

A report by Oxfam in 2022 discovered the pandemic worsened Hong Kong’s wealth hole, with the richest residents making nearly 50 instances as a lot because the poorest within the first quarter of 2022.

Rotmeyer’s organisation has helped nearly 500 individuals off the streets and into shelters — however he says the size of the homelessness drawback within the metropolis goes past what nongovernmental organisations can do.

“Over 90 p.c of those individuals haven't any emergency contact, they haven't any buddy or member of the family of their life. That isolation performs an enormous position of their step in the direction of changing into homeless, so after we search for an answer, we all know that a room just isn't sufficient,” Rotmeyer mentioned.

“Many of those people grew up not understanding a mom or father. We see individuals outdoors on the road with numerous psychological well being points — schizophrenia, psychosis, melancholy, and even Alzheimer’s. Our healthcare system is ill-equipped to take care of this.”

ImpactHK tries to assist individuals sleeping on the streets however says the size of the issue means way more help is required [Bertha Wang/Al Jazeera]

In line with the Social Welfare Division, there have been greater than 1,500 individuals registered as “road sleepers” from 2021-22.

In an announcement, the Social Welfare Division informed Al Jazeera that it has enhanced its companies for individuals experiencing homelessness since 2021-22 and can “proceed to maintain in view the welfare service wants of road sleepers”.

“Whether or not road sleepers will settle for the companies or referrals is dependent upon their willingness and motivation for receiving companies. The social staff … will render vital help to road sleepers if they're prepared to just accept the companies,” the assertion mentioned.

The division mentioned individuals experiencing homelessness have numerous causes for sleeping on the road, together with being unable to search out reasonably priced housing on account of unemployment, having household issues, being not too long ago discharged from jail or drug dependancy remedy centres, or different private causes.

‘I shall be very completely satisfied if I may help them’

Watching with alarm because the variety of homeless in Hong Kong grows is 65-year-old Chu Kin Lik, who goes by the nickname Ah Lik.

Ah Lik (left) spent most of his grownup life homeless. He acquired help from HKImpact and later joined the group. He now has a spot to reside [Bertha Wang/Al Jazeera]

He is aware of first hand what it's prefer to attempt to sleep outdoors throughout Hong Kong’s chilly winter nights and sizzling summer time days.

He spent most of his grownup life on the streets, together with greater than 10 years residing in an underpass.

“I started my homelessness once I was a young person, and I spent my youth in jail, after which the pedestrian tunnel,” he mentioned.

“I at all times had my issues stolen, and there have been additionally fights. I met some individuals who would deal with me to dinner, if I participated in a combat.”

Three years in the past, he met the ImpactHK group whereas they have been distributing social assist. He joined their group as a full-time assistant shortly afterwards.

Many homeless individuals haven't any contact with household or buddies, and a few could also be coping with psychological well being points, together with Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia [Bertha Wang/Al Jazeera]

“I grew to become extra cheerful after serving to different individuals experiencing homelessness. I met many new individuals. Now I've a spot to reside, I've sufficient meals and a job. I even have a canine, who I deal with like my daughter. I’m completely satisfied and happy,” he mentioned.

“I shall be very completely satisfied if I may help extra individuals. I'm completely satisfied if they're completely satisfied.”