Hong Kong’s homeless numbers surge to 10-year high as pandemic travel restrictions, job losses take their toll
- Official count shows 1,581 sleeping rough, with a big jump in number of homeless women
- Housing issues such as lack of subsidised rental flats need addressing, concern groups say
Hongkonger To Hanh-duyen, 47, slept on a bench in a park in Tai Kok Tsui for more than a month through summer nights.
With nowhere to live, the childless divorcee took shelter in a public toilet or launderette when it rained, only to be startled by users.
She used to live in Shenzhen, in mainland China, renting a 300 sq ft flat for about HK$1,000 (US$127) a month. She travelled to Hong Kong several days a week for part-time jobs as a waitress or saleswoman, earning HK$500 a day.
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted her cross-border trips and she had to pay for a hotel to continue working in Hong Kong. When she could not afford that, she returned to the mainland, but could not find suitable work.
With her savings running out, To returned to Hong Kong in June, and resorted to sleeping rough until earlier this month, when she moved into a hostel operated by an NGO providing temporary free accommodation to the homeless.
“All I want is a roof over my head,” To said.
Official statistics released last week showed that the number of homeless people in Hong Kong surged to a 10-year high of 1,581 last year.
