Struggle of Homeless Individuals in Hong Kong Should Not Be Overlooked
Rewritten Article:
It's great to see homelessness in Hong Kong has been decreasing, with numbers hitting a 10-year low. Yet, the community mustn't lose sight of our most at-risk individuals.
In the 2023-24 financial year, the number of registered homeless people dropped a whopping 40% to 795, down from 1,441 the year before, according to data released by the Social Welfare Department last month. The current figures show a continuation of this trend, with 672 people registered homeless as of December.
Some attribute the improvement to an uptick in housing supply. By the end of last year, the homeless population had access to 228 short-term hostel spots, with an average occupancy rate of 73%. Transitional homes have been made available, although most are situated in the New Territories.
However, ImpactHK, an NGO, suggests that demand for their services has increased, raising questions about the government's figures' accuracy. Social workers believe evictions from public areas may have simply shifted homeless people to areas close to housing estates, shopping centers, or public restrooms.
Regarding counting homeless individuals, challenges have been found in other regions, such as data collection limitations, prejudice, fears, and definitional uncertainties. For instance, people in informal settlements or temporary housing are often overlooked, or those avoiding authorities may not register due to legal status concerns. Moreover, narrow criteria could artificially decrease counts, similar to gaps in birth registration systems contributing to statelessness.
Climate-induced displacement and systemic barriers in service provision can also outpace official metrics. Although declining numbers could signify policy success, they may also conceal seasonal or temporary homelessness and inadequate outreach to non-traditional homeless demographics. In other words, it's essential not to overlook hidden homelessness in Hong Kong.
- Despite the significant drop in the registered homeless population, questions have arisen about the accuracy of the government's figures due to the increased demand for services from organizations like ImpactHK.
- In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, it's crucial to acknowledge that narrow criteria in counting homeless individuals might underestimate the true extent of homelessness, potentially overlooking hidden homelessness populations in Hong Kong.
- By 2023, the occupancy rate of short-term hostels for the homeless has reached 73%, yet social workers suspect that the actual number of homeless individuals may be higher due to the displacement of homeless people to areas near housing estates, shopping centers, or public restrooms.
