Archive for category: Homelessness

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Social Policies in Paris and Barcelona Reduce Poverty

Social Policies in Paris and BarcelonaAs urban populations across Europe continue to grow, cities are increasingly at the forefront of tackling poverty and inequality. Research shows that urban poverty across the world is shaped not only by income disparity but also by access to housing, health care and other social services. As a result, local governments, which are politically and geographically closer to these challenges, are increasingly important catalysts in designing responsive solutions.

For decades, Paris and Barcelona have led their respective national gender-equality policies to promote urban poverty reduction and prevention. Their application of social policies such as gender-responsive budgeting and comprehensive social service access supports women and children in Barcelona and Paris. These groups are most likely to be systemically impacted by poverty and are prioritized as recipients of targeted care.

Paris, France: Tackling Homelessness and Supporting Families

Despite being France’s largest and most economically productive city, post-pandemic rates of urban poverty in Paris remain higher than the national average. It is widely recognized that the principal driver of such inequality in Paris is the lack of affordable, stable housing. This issue disproportionately affects women and single-parent families.

Since 2000, the French government has attempted to combat the housing crisis. It does this by implementing laws that require cities to have at least 25% social housing, meaning lodgings suitable for low-income families or those with additional needs. The city of Paris currently meets the legal requirements and in 2022, announced plans to reach 40% social housing within the next decade. 

These plans include repurposing “offices, empty schools and garages” to meet growing demand and provide secure, stable housing for thousands more Parisians. As house prices and rents continue to rise across the city, sustaining these policies remains essential to preventing further inequality among low-income households.

Income distribution in Paris is uneven and wage disparities in the region amount to a 21% gap between women and men. Families living in the suburbs, known as the “banlieues,” face further barriers to the kinds of social inclusion that drive poverty alleviation. In response, the Parisian government has made significant progress in supporting low-income, single-parent families, which are statistically more likely to be headed by women.

Monthly financial aid helps reduce cost burdens and stabilize these households, preventing them from falling into urban poverty. By directly addressing housing insecurity and its disproportionate effect on single-parent households, these policies demonstrate how Paris’ structural investment in affordable housing and social support can reduce urban poverty, particularly among women-led households.

Barcelona, Spain: Gender-Responsive Public Spending

Barcelona is a vibrant, youthful city with heralded architecture and cultural icons. However, it also experiences disproportionate rates of urban poverty compared with national averages. Women in Barcelona are significantly more likely to live in conditions of poverty than men, accounting for 20.9% of those at risk of poverty.

In response, the government of Barcelona introduced its “Strategy against the feminization of poverty” initiative in 2016. Over the span of a decade, the policies have worked to address equal hiring practices, workplace treatment, income equality and social support for working mothers and caregivers. They have also systematically evaluated how public spending impacts men and women differently and the subsequent impact on the urban economy.

This approach, known as gender-responsive budgeting, ensures that public spending and resources are directed toward the specific needs of women, especially those balancing employment and caregiving responsibilities. Other policies, such as B-MINCOME, have provided financial support to low-income households to help families meet basic needs and improve access to employment and social services. They are predicted to empower hundreds of thousands of citizens financially.

The B-MINCOME initiative addresses rising poverty and social inequalities, in which the average income of Barcelona’s lowest-earning households has dropped by 27% over the last few years. By directing such investment and proactive welfare toward those most affected by poverty, the city is working to reduce inequality at its root. This demonstrates how city-level policy can create more effective urban poverty reduction.

Different Approaches, Same Outcome

While Paris and Barcelona have adopted different approaches to tackling inequality, both demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted, city-level strategies in addressing the drivers of urban poverty. Whether through structural investment in housing or gender-responsive public spending, these policies prioritize those most affected, particularly women and low-income households. As urban populations continue to grow, these approaches offer valuable insights into how local governments can contribute to meaningful and sustainable urban poverty reduction.

Social policies in Paris and Barcelona are shaped around lived realities. This creates more inclusive, resilient and empowered communities for the future.

– Hannah Michie

Hannah is based in Nice, France and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Cargo Containers as Affordable Housing for Nigerians

Cargo Containers as Affordable HousingNigeria is currently facing an immense housing crisis. First, there is a fundamental shortage of homes to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population. According to the 2025 Nigeria Housing Report published by the Sixteenth Council, the country faces a housing deficit of more than 17 million units. With one of the highest fertility rates in Africa, around 4.4 births per woman, Nigeria’s demand for housing continues to rise sharply, placing increasing pressure on already limited supply.

Second, beyond the material shortage itself, many existing homes are deemed structurally inadequate. A significant number of homes are built in unsafe conditions, such as on weak stilts over water or lack access to basic services like proper sanitation and electricity. In response to these challenges, an innovative solution has begun to gain attention: “cargotecture.” Derived from the original word architecture, this emerging approach involves repurposing cargo containers as affordable housing units. 

The Advantages of Container Homes

One key reason shipping containers have become increasingly important as land-based structures is their durability. Companies such as Karmod Nigeria, which operates in more than 25 states, note that these structures are engineered for long-term use. Built primarily from steel, they offer strong structural integrity and present a practical option for affordable housing in low-income communities. 

Steel is highly durable and resistant to harsh environmental conditions, reducing the need for frequent repairs and lowering long-term maintenance costs. This makes container-based housing a cost-effective solution in different climates and seasons. Beyond everyday environmental conditions, steel containers also perform well under extreme stresses, including earthquakes. 

Originally built to endure long journeys across rough oceans, these containers are designed for strength and resilience. Their robust structure makes them a reliable option in areas with recorded seismic activity, such as Nigeria, which has experienced earthquakes as high as magnitude 4.9. Another material advantage lies in cargo container flooring. Since the base structure is already reinforced, it requires little additional support. 

Floors can be finished quickly with lightweight, cost-effective materials such as bamboo, timber and polyvinyl chloride tiles, which are often cheaper than hardwood used in traditional homes. This helps reduce overall construction costs, making housing more accessible and practical for low-income communities. Fire resistance is another notable benefit of cargo containers. 

In a country like Nigeria, where temperatures remain consistently high, the risk of fire can increase. A 1977 U.S. Coast Guard study found that fires in containers caused minimal structural damage and were unlikely to spread to nearby units. This shows that steel shipping containers are largely non-combustible, offering a safer and more reliable housing option for people who might otherwise live in low-cost areas with higher fire risks. 

Closing Remarks

Ultimately, container homes have evolved from export transport units into lightweight, quickly assembled housing solutions for Nigerians who may not have the means to buy fully furnished luxury homes. Known for their durability, these pre-built structures offer a practical response to the country’s housing crisis. Their growing appeal is also reflected in the expanding global market.

Reports show the container homes market generated $44.76 billion in 2017 and was projected to reach $73.07 billion by 2025, highlighting the real potential of cargo containers as affordable housing.

– Sophia Lupo

Sophia is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Homelessness in Wallis and Futuna: A Hidden Problem

Homelessness in Wallis and FutunaHomelessness in Wallis and Futuna does not fit the typical image of people sleeping on city sidewalks. Instead, it resembles situations in places like Fiji, manifesting through housing insecurity and overcrowding that quietly impact residents’ lives. With rising climate risks and high prices for goods, families increasingly rely on informal support systems and French-backed programs to keep their homes.

Housing and Poverty in a Remote Territory

Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas territory with a population of about 11,140 people spread across the islands of Wallis, Futuna and Alofi. As a French collectivity, it enjoys social protection, free public health care and links to France’s welfare system. Despite this, its geographic isolation and small market limit stable job opportunities.

Authorities conducted its latest population and housing census in Wallis and Futuna in 2023. However, the 2018 census most recently counted every household and community residence, including boarding schools and retirement homes. That census tracked the living conditions of residents and housing stock. While agencies/officials have not widely published detailed figures on homelessness in Wallis and Futuna, the census framework indicated that authorities focused on issues like overcrowding, shared homes and vulnerable residents rather than the percentage of people living on the streets.

When Homelessness Means Inadequate Housing

With about 21% of Wallis and Futuna’s residents living below the housing poverty in 2020, this phenomenon of “hidden” homelessness is characterized by residents living in overcrowded conditions, substandard homes and precarious tenure rather than people sleeping outside. Those from low-income backgrounds live in informal and semi-formal settlements that do not meet basic standards regarding safe water access, sanitation and structural quality.

These issues are not new to Wallis and Futuna. The territory has limited land, is vulnerable to tropical storms, and depends on a small, aid-dependent economy. Consequently, those without stable housing often live with extended families, move frequently between islands, or rely on church and community networks. These circumstances align with larger international definitions of housing insecurity and hidden homelessness.

Support Systems and French Policy Connections

French public systems play a significant role in preventing extreme homelessness in Wallis and Futuna. The French government funds a free public health system that residents can easily access. Doctors and officials can quickly evacuate those with serious cases to partner hospitals in Paris under an agreement with France’s national health insurance, ensuring that residents in Wallis and Futuna receive immediate enrollment in social security.

Moreover, the territory benefits from French-supported programs like the “Housing First” plan. This initiative promotes quick access to stable housing for people living in poor conditions, and aims to reduce reliance on emergency shelters. While France designed this plan primarily for the mainland, its principles provide funding and technical support that can reach French overseas territories, including Wallis and Futuna, where social services are under French law. Between 2017 and 2022, France’s Housing First strategy moved about 440,000 people into (or kept them in) stable housing, showing measurable results behind the model.

Climate, Development Projects and Significant Future Risks

Environmental pressures and limited land accelerates housing insecurity in Wallis and Futuna. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion and intense storms destroy homes and traditional landholdings. This pushes individuals and families into temporary accommodations or the overcrowded homes of relatives when their own dwellings become unsuitable to live in.

The European Union, through cooperation with South Pacific territories, has tried to address these risks. Between 2018 and 2024, the PROTEGE program was implemented by the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) supported Wallis and Futuna in protecting drinking water resources, promoting agroecological practices and safeguarded biodiversity through concrete actions such as water-catchment protection, and invasive-species control. These measures help to improve rural livelihoods and lessens the risk of environmental shocks that lead to displacement. Since August 2020, the EU’s “Green Overseas” (GO program) led by Expertise France has helped the territory through the GO facility, which provides technical assistance and funding to develop eco-construction and energy-efficiency solutions.

Solutions and Community-Based Approaches

Pacific housing programs demonstrate that combining basic infrastructure, secure tenure and community involvement effectively addresses inadequate housing. By leveraging village networks, church communities and traditional systems, it can create resilient housing and eco-construction with French and EU support. This helps reduce hidden homelessness in Wallis and Futuna and protects its most vulnerable residents.

– Ashirah Newton

Ashirah is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

SDG 10 in BrazilBrazil’s hosting of the soccer World Cup and Olympic Games in the mid-2010s symbolized its arrival as a confident middle-class power. Rapid economic growth and large-scale social reform had lifted millions out of poverty and gradually reversed some of the country’s extreme income disparities. But, that progress has stalled over the past decade. This article provides updates on SDG 10 in Brazil, examining the country’s performance against a core UN target – tackling inequality.

Decade of Stagnation

When the Olympics came to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Gini Index score, which measures income inequality, had been steadily falling for decades — from more than 60 in 1990 to around 52 in 2015 —  prompting experts to celebrate the country as a beacon for social progress.

But its Gini score actually increased in subsequent years, before returning to 52 again in 2023, the most recent year of available data. That’s almost double the SDG 10 goal, of 27.5, and represents a decade of stagnation.

‘World’s Most Socially Regressive Austerity’

The economic crisis that hit in 2014 largely explains that lack of progress, after a slump in prices for Brazilian commodities such as iron ore, a major corruption scandal at the national oil producer and a raft of fiscal and monetary policies that undermined confidence in the government’s ability to manage the country’s finances.

Increased borrowing costs followed, along with legislation freezing social spending for 20 years, which one UN official described as the “most socially regressive austerity package in the world.” Millions slipped back into poverty in the aftermath of the pandemic and there has been a surge in homelessness across major cities.

Highly Regressive Tax System

Brazil’s regressive tax system is another major cause of inequality. Several millions live in poverty, but there is also more than 400,000 millionaires (in U.S. dollar terms), with the richest 1% of Brazilians earning 27% of the nation’s income.

The country’s income concentration is significantly higher than previously thought, according to a recent report by a group of Brazilian and international economists, with ultra-wealthy individuals paying relatively little tax compared to other nations.

Using a new method of calculating wealth, officials from the Brazilian tax agency and researchers from the EU Tax Observatory found those earning at least $1 million per year have far lower effective tax rates (20.6% on average) than the average citizen (42.5%).

Many other countries reverse this pattern, including the U.S., where the effective tax for million-dollar earners is 36%, compared to 29% for the average American.

Brazil’s tax system is therefore highly regressive, as the tax burden for middle-class households is significantly higher than for the very rich, which hampers efforts to reduce inequality.

New Leadership and Legislation Brings Some Relief

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to the presidency in 2023, replacing the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, has provided greater hope and funding support to social programs, including the flagship Bolsa Família program, which offers direct cash transfers to low-income families. Lula’s government has also passed legislation reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income households, with a minimum rate established for higher earners. In particular, the new laws ensured new levies on dividends and company profits that were previously exempt.

Observers debate the extent to which this can be celebrated, however, as some warn the highest earners are able to shield their income due to flaws in the legislation, while the changes are only expected to produce modest improvements to the Gini coefficient, of just 0.3%.

Tathiane Piscitelli, a professor of financial law at the Rio-based think tank, Fundação Getulio Vargas, has acknowledged the limited impact of the changes, but said: “It is an improvement to our system, something that has been needed for a long time… Income tax is supposed to be progressive. We had the opposite situation, where those who earned more paid less. So even if this is not the ideal reform, overall it is a major relief.”

Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

Ultimately, tax reforms can only go so far, and Brazil will need to find ways to strengthen its economic performance to place itself in a fiscal position to dramatically increase social spending. With the government’s debt levels standing at more than 80% of GDP, up from 58% in 2016, and spending is still severely constrained, Brazil is unlikely to achieve the SDG 10 target in anything but the very long term.

Oxfam estimates it would take more than 75 years to match the income inequality levels of the United Kingdom, at the current rate of progress, which would still fall short of the targeted Gini index score of 27.5.

Reasons for Optimism

There are reasons for optimism, however, with analysts at Boston Consulting Group suggesting Brazil’s economy is “impressively resilient” and well placed to navigate the shift in global power structures. Political neutrality on the world stage helps Brazil continue to enjoy warm relations with most Western countries, while its membership of the BRICS+ group of nations provides a key leadership role among the world’s fastest growing economies.

The huge domestic market and vast natural resources should also help shield Brazil from sharp trade barrier changes, said BCG, while a vast clean energy sector and robust digital infrastructure provide solid foundations for sustainable economic growth. If growth can return and the government can respond with increased social spending and continuing improvements to the tax system, inequalities should again start to fall.

International and Non-Government Support

Brazil’s international connections should also bring foreign and non-governmental investment. Last year, for example, the World Bank agreed to fund a major project to re-introduce the Bolsa Verde Program, which offers cash assistance to rural families that commit to environmental conservation, and should benefit 55,000 families in the Amazon by December 2026. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Lemann Foundation are working to draw attention to Brazil’s challenges within influential academic circles, with major investments to establish research centers within some of the world’s leading universities.

Momentum Can Return

The fight to achieve SDG 10 in Brazil may have stalled after earlier gains, but recent policy reforms and global shifts that should favor its economy suggest momentum can return. If growth strengthens and reforms continue, Brazil should again make significant progress in narrowing its deep inequalities.

– Lawrence Dunhill

Lawrence is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Displacement in Asia as Natural Disasters Sweep the Continent

displacement asiaIn 2025, a series of extreme weather events swept through the eastern hemisphere, causing widespread displacement in Asia. Hundreds of families and refugees are unhoused or experience forced displacement from floods or sudden land erosion, leading many to lose food resources when livestock and crops are adversely affected by the damage.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Thailand are a few of the many countries with a rising number of people who are struggle with displacement in Asia because of natural disasters. Hundreds have died or gone missing after getting trapped by the elements, blocking them inside the villages they live. Increasing water levels and blockages from large boulders or mud cause houses to get submerged by the aftermath of a mudslide.

Local government shelters provide temporary housing for the unhoused populations, including residents living along the Kelani River in Sri Lanka, northern Kurigram, Bangladesh, and even in Diourbel, Senegal.

Sri Lanka

During the monsoon season, Sri Lanka experienced damage from mudslides and floods, causing forced displacement and homelessness. According to the BBC, the Disaster Management Centre reported that, with the destruction of 20,000 homes due to severe natural disasters, 108,000 people had to relocate to temporary shelters.

The island is still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah, which left a portion of the country without access to water or power, resulting in emergency evacuations.

Since it is monsoon season in Sri Lanka, the effects of intense weather and the changing climate are having adverse effects. These deadly floods have not only killed hundreds of people, but these disasters impacted Indonesia, as well as Thailand and Malaysia, with a high number of deaths in Kandy and Badulla, Sri Lanka.

Consequently, the latest natural disasters are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, making it challenging to rebuild. However, resources are limited, forcing the Sri Lankan government to resort to sending an appeal for international aid and encouraging residents to raise money for struggling communities. Saman Kumara from the Badulla village of Maspanna shared his experience with the BBC via telephone, saying, “We lost two people in our village… others are sheltering in a temple and a house that is still standing. There is no food, and we are running out of clean water.”

Bangladesh

In certain parts of Bangladesh, the collapse of riverbanks continues to erode land each year. Hundreds of families and refugees face dispdue todisplacement from sudden land erosion, leading many to lose food resources when livestock and crops face damages. Data from the World Bank reveals that one in seven Bangladeshis face displacement due to severe natural disasters by 2050.

Extreme weather events, such as monsoons and melting glaciers, destroy land near rivers. Displacement affects families suffering from the loss of vital resources.

Despite these hardships, Bangladesh invests heavily in the country’s infrastructure. Modern preventive measures include the addition of embankments, quality storm forecasting, and modifications that focus on supporting communities, Reuters reports.

In addition, communities in Kheyar Alga Char, Bangladesh, were able to continue living in their homes. This was possible because community groups collaborated to implement resistant materials, including Geobags that reinforce the stability of riverbanks. Local NGOs are assisting with rebuilding villages by constructing homes raised above ground, keeping water out. In an Interview with Reuters, Johurul Islam lost his home multiple times before relocating to benefit from the modern infrastructure in Kheyar Alga Char, Bangladesh. Islam said, “Geobags have made a huge difference. For the last three years, the river did not take our land. For the first time, I feel a little confident about the future.”

Refugees

Since 2010, refugees from Bangladesh and Senegal have been fleeing from repeated storms and flooding, making parts of these regions uninhabitable. Ultimately, this pressures displaced migrants to seek asylum in other countries to avoid displacement in Asia. Reporting from The Guardian found that displaced people from Feni, Bangladesh and Diourbel, Senegal, struggled with environmental destruction, causing more than 237,000 asylum seekers to find emergency shelter in New York City since April 2022.

Severe weather storms destroyed homes and the vitality of crops in the western and central regions of Senegal. Columbia Journalism Investigations notes that more than 1,800 displaced Senegalese migrants fled an aggressive series of storms between 2019 and 2024.

Felipe Navarro, Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at the University of California’s College of the Law, explains how Irreparable damage, in combination with inefficient government responses to hurricanes and floods, force people to leave. While some residents, like Mohamed’s family from Diourbel in Senegal, were able to minimize the damage themselves. According to The Guardian, Mohamed’s brother a teacher living in Senegal, built a house with a solid foundation constructed using sand, gravel, and cement, preventing water from flooding the home.

The Path Forward

Within Asia, some countries are predisposed to cycles of floods and storms, benefiting from UNICEF’s programs and partners. These programs provide preventative treatments, such as vaccines given to children to protect them from diseases. Providing malnutrition intervention to improve health. Emergency hygiene materials and equipment, shielding children from severe weather conditions, has also assisted in preserving the lives of children in South Asian countries.

Although UNICEF directs its services towards children, there have been expansions to support families and communities that suffer from climate-related emergencies. UNICEF partners with donors, governments, and civil society groups to continue reducing the number of displaced in Asia.

Advancing services to support vulnerable populations is UNICEF’s priority, while its efforts assist displaced children and families by preserving lives and reducing displacement in Asia.

– Lala McCullough

Lala is based in Brentwood, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Net Café Refugees: Japan’s Hidden Urban Poverty

Net Café RefugeesIn Japan, a subtle form of homelessness has surfaced, particularly in the 24-hour internet cafés, which are traditionally viewed as venues for late-night gaming or manga reading. Instead of conventional street living, many low-income workers utilize these cubicle-sized booths as makeshift bedrooms. According to a poll by the Tokyo metropolitan government, it is estimated that around 4,000 individuals spend their workday nights sleeping in these cafés.

The growth in internet café homelessness exposes a deeper and frequently disregarded reality: poverty occurs even in high-income countries and is getting harder to escape, even though the world often considers Japan to be one of the most prosperous nations on Earth.

A High-Tech Refuge for the Working Poor

Many internet cafés in Tokyo, Osaka, and other large cities provide overnight packages that include free drinks, showers, reclining seats and private cubicles. These facilities offer a unique blend of affordability, anonymity and safety for those with inconsistent jobs or wages.

Often referred to as “net café refugees,” people who live in cafés are not always jobless. Many work as delivery drivers, cleaners, warehouse employees, convenience store employees, or part-time office assistants. However, saving for traditional housing is practically impossible due to low wages and irregular hours.

How Poverty Drives Internet Cafe Homelessness

Rising poverty in Japan has led to increased homelessness among internet café users, driven by unstable employment and low wages. Approximately 40% of workers engage in nonregular jobs, which offer diminished pay, benefits, and job security. A missed paycheck can swiftly result in homelessness, prompting individuals to use internet cafés as temporary, low-cost shelters.

High housing costs in Japan, particularly in cities like Tokyo, challenge low-income workers due to the rental system’s requirement for large upfront payments. This situation forces many, estimated at up to 4,000 according to a 2018 survey, to use internet cafés as their primary homes.

Internet café homelessness impacts a wide range of people, including young adults with precarious part-time jobs, middle-aged people laid off from long-term positions, internal migrants from rural areas looking for work in the cities, women fleeing abusive households or financial hardship and those who are cut off from their families and lack a support system.

Many workers do not fit the homeless stereotype. During the day, they blend in with metropolitan masses, keep their jobs and dress nicely. They discreetly withdraw to cramped cells rather than apartments at night. Because they are invisible, it is more difficult to track the issue and simpler for society to ignore it.

The Daily Reality of Cafe Living

Internet cafés, while providing short-term housing, could negatively affect residents’ physical, economic and emotional well-being. Inadequate bedding leads to physical strain and chronic fatigue, while limited access to hygiene facilities impacts self-esteem and health. Irregular sleep patterns further exacerbate mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Many net café refugees face ongoing stress from unstable living conditions, working without a safe place to sleep, which leads to fatigue and reduced job performance. The costs of café stays, irregular sleep, social isolation, and the lack of a stable address hinder access to jobs, banking and government aid, reinforcing a cycle of poverty even in wealthy nations.

Acknowledging the serious issue of homelessness, local governments like Tokyo’s administration are implementing emergency housing, free counseling, job placement programs and short-term lodging in government hostels. While these initiatives provide important support, they often offer only temporary relief rather than addressing the underlying causes of internet café homelessness, such as high housing costs and low wages.

NGOs Filling the Gaps

Numerous nonprofit organizations in Japan, such as Homedoor, are actively helping individuals facing hidden homelessness by offering free or low-cost temporary accommodation, food, clothing and hygiene products. They assist in navigating government services and advocate for changes to housing and employment laws, playing a crucial role for those hesitant to approach government offices.

Policy experts recommend several changes to end the cycle of poverty and hidden homelessness. Increasing the number of inexpensive public apartments and modular housing units could expand affordable housing initiatives and offer longer-term, safer housing options.

A Poverty Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

The growing number of net café refugees in Japan highlights the unexpected forms of modern poverty, despite the country’s wealth. As revealed in a 2025 exposition on hidden homelessness, many have to live in internet cafés, capsule hotels or unstable flats while contending with systemic barriers that perpetuate their low-income, precarious situations.

The international community may better understand the different forms of poverty and support solutions that guarantee everyone, regardless of location, has access to secure, stable housing by bringing attention to this mostly unseen problem.

– Katelyn Leano

Katelyn is based in Plainfield, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Housing Initiatives and Homelessness in Guinea-Bissau

Homelessness in Guinea-bissauHomelessness in Guinea-Bissau is more accurately understood through the lens of housing insecurity rather than widespread street sleeping. In urban areas, particularly the capital city of Bissau, housing deprivation most commonly takes the form of informal and overcrowded living arrangements where residents lack access to durable construction and basic services such as water and sanitation. These conditions increase exposure to displacement, illness and economic marginalization. The scale of this vulnerability remains substantial: housing-sector profiling shows that approximately 74% of the population lives in slum or informal settlements, reflecting persistent deficits in housing quality, living space and essential infrastructure.

How Homelessness in Guinea-Bissau Is a Development Issue

Housing insecurity in Guinea-Bissau reflects deeper structural constraints associated with low levels of human development. Data from the United Nations Development Programme place the country in the low human development category, ranking 174 out of 193 countries with a Human Development Index value of 0.514 in 2023.

On the HDI scale, values closer to zero indicate severe constraints across health, education and living standards while higher scores reflect more consistent access to these foundations of well-being. Although Guinea-Bissau has made gradual progress over time, persistent deficits across these dimensions continue to shape housing outcomes. Limited access to safe water, sanitation and durable shelter undermines health; overcrowded living conditions disrupt educational participation; and housing instability constrains households’ ability to sustain livelihoods. Poor housing quality therefore does not simply result from low human development but actively reproduces disadvantage by reinforcing vulnerability across multiple domains.

Informal Settlements

In Bissau, informal settlements frequently occupy areas that lack access to essential services, including safe water, sanitation and energy infrastructure. The absence of a comprehensive urban planning framework contributes directly to this pattern. These infrastructure deficits expose residents to heightened environmental risk, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding, which damage homes and intensify cycles of displacement. Housing instability therefore operates not as an isolated social issue but as part of wider structural vulnerabilities that undermine health, disrupt education and constrain economic participation.

Public health research shows that inadequate housing conditions, including overcrowded living spaces and poor sanitation, are associated with higher risks of infectious disease and other adverse health outcomes. The World Health Organization’s Housing and health guidelines highlight how crowded and substandard housing contributes to health burdens by increasing people’s exposure to communicable diseases and undermining personal hygiene.

Addressing housing insecurity, therefore, functions as a direct intervention in poverty reduction rather than a peripheral welfare concern.

Active Housing Solutions in Guinea-Bissau

In response to these challenges, development initiatives in Guinea-Bissau increasingly focus on strengthening housing stability by reshaping policy frameworks and addressing gaps in urban planning and infrastructure provision. Within this landscape, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) plays a central role. Since 2015, UN-Habitat has worked alongside national and municipal authorities to strengthen urban governance and expand access to adequate housing through technical assistance in planning and policy development.

Rather than prioritizing short-term relief, UN-Habitat emphasizes long-term structural change by strengthening the systems that shape how cities grow and how housing is planned and delivered. In the context of housing and urban development, this work includes: 

  • Providing technical assistance to support the development of national urban and housing policy frameworks.
  • Supporting spatial planning processes that guide more sustainable and inclusive urban expansion.
  • Promoting the integration of housing with water and sanitation infrastructure within broader city development frameworks.

Together, these interventions create conditions that allow affordable and secure housing to expand over time, reducing reliance on informal settlements and lowering vulnerability to displacement.

Measured Impact and Policy Outcomes

Through collaboration with the Government of Guinea-Bissau, UN-Habitat supported the development of the Bissau 2030 Sustainable Development Plan, which outlines a long-term strategy for inclusive urban development. The framework prioritizes infrastructure provision and more effective land-use governance in low-income areas where housing insecurity remains most pronounced.

By directing attention toward informal and underserved neighborhoods, the plan targets communities most exposed to housing insecurity. Its emphasis on improved planning and infrastructure provision is intended to reduce environmental risk and support more stable patterns of residential development. This approach aligns with World Bank analysis showing that deficits in basic infrastructure and service access in Guinea-Bissau compound exposure to shocks and restrict access to health and education—conditions that make housing instability harder to escape.

Why Housing-Led Approaches Are Effective

Homelessness in Guinea-Bissau remains a significant development challenge. However, housing-led initiatives demonstrate how coordinated urban planning, policy reform and infrastructure investment can strengthen urban stability. By addressing the structural conditions that produce housing insecurity, these interventions support healthier, more resilient communities and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction in one of the world’s most fragile economies. 

– Kira Rai

Kira is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Argentina’s Housing Crisis: The Rise of Community-Led Solutions

Argentina’s Housing CrisisArgentina is facing one of the most severe housing crises in South America. Inflation has destabilized incomes, rents have surged, and millions of families are being pushed into overcrowded or informal housing. Amid Argentina’s housing crisis, grassroots housing initiatives are emerging as some of the country’s most effective tools for protecting low-income communities. Community-led approaches are offering one of the few hopeful storylines in Argentina’s current economic landscape.

A Housing Crisis Fueled by Inflation and Inequality

Argentina’s housing deficit has reached an alarming scale. Recent estimates show that more than 3.2 million households lack adequate housing or essential infrastructure such as water, sewage, or secure tenure.

This deficit has deepened as chronic inflation, which surpassed 200% over the past year, pushes rent prices far beyond what most families can afford, only intensifying Argentina’s housing crisis.

Reports from the Housing Yearbook for Latin America show that in 2023, rents in Buenos Aires surged to 72% of the average formal income, nearly double historic levels, making formal housing increasingly out of reach for low-income households. As affordability collapses and mortgage access remains at record lows, many families are pushed into Argentina’s informal settlements, or villas, where overcrowding and limited public services deepen existing poverty.

Housing insecurity does not just mean losing a home. It affects education, employment, health and stability. For families already living at or below the poverty line, rising housing costs are often the tipping point into deeper economic hardship. The scale of Argentina’s housing crisis makes these risks widespread.

Government programs exist, but they frequently face delays, limited budgets and inconsistent political support. Subsidies often fail to keep up with inflation, and large-scale housing construction cannot meet the speed or scale of current needs. As a result, communities have begun to create their own solutions, many of which are proving both innovative and effective.

Community-Led Urban Upgrading

Across Buenos Aires, community-driven urbanization projects are reimagining what housing policy can look like. Instead of relocating families, these programs upgrade existing neighborhoods by improving roads, sewage lines, electricity access, and public spaces, all while keeping residents deeply involved in planning and decision-making.

In Villa 20, for example, residents have collaborated with municipal authorities and civil society groups to map risks, design new housing units, and improve long-term housing security. Additionally, the project is part of a broader effort to connect families with legal titles, improve safety, and expand access to services. These changes improve housing and directly reduce poverty by stabilizing neighborhoods, expanding economic opportunities, and preventing displacement.

Participatory upgrading models have been highlighted by C40 Cities and other international networks as examples of how bottom-up solutions can address poverty when traditional housing markets exclude low-income populations.

Cooperatives and Social Movements

Grassroots organizations like the Movimiento de Ocupantes e Inquilinos (MOI) have long championed self-managed housing cooperatives. These initiatives give working-class families control over their homes, emphasizing affordability, collective decision-making, and long-term stability.

Meanwhile, the Instituto de Vivienda de la Ciudad (IVC) has helped formalize property rights for cooperative members and families in informal settlements, giving them the legal tools needed to access credit, invest in their communities, and escape vulnerability.

International platforms like the Affordable Housing Activation Atlas document how these participatory, community-led housing models create long-term affordability in ways that market-driven systems rarely achieve.

Why Argentina’s Community Solutions Matter Globally

Today, close to 1.1 billion people live in informal settlements worldwide, making housing a central development challenge. Furthermore, secure housing is closely linked with poverty reduction, as inadequate housing is a key dimension in global poverty assessments. Community participation and on-site upgrading help strengthen social resilience and maintain access to jobs and services for low‑income residents.

By highlighting how bottom-up, community-led solutions can create durable, equitable housing, Argentina’s housing crisis provides a model for global efforts to make housing a pathway out of poverty rather than a barrier.

A Crisis With Transformative Potential

Argentina’s housing crisis remains severe, but its community-led responses prove that even in economic turmoil, progress is possible. These projects do more than build homes. They expand rights, strengthen neighborhoods, and create pathways out of poverty. As global organizations search for scalable models to tackle urban poverty, Argentina’s grassroots housing innovations stand out as both practical and profoundly hopeful.

– Ella Bogdan

Ella is based in Denver, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Taiwan That Reflect Confucianism

Charities Operating in TaiwanAccording to the Bertelsmann Stiftung Country Report (2022), 7.36% of the Taiwanese population is relatively impoverished. In other words, the poverty rate in Taiwan is relatively low. The low rate may be due to Taiwan’s strict definition of poverty. However, there is a cultural significance that expresses the value of well-being in humanity. For example, many members of Taiwanese society follow Confucianism, a set of philosophies that honors community and compassion for those in suffering and facing difficult times. Culture could explain why there are many organized and well-funded charities operating in Taiwan.  

Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation

The first of the charities operating in Taiwan is the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation, which prioritizes the senior citizen community that is either living alone or experiencing the mental and physical challenges that come with aging. As of 2025, 20% of the Taiwanese population is age 65 or older, making Taiwan a “super-aged society.” Hondao is a key charity operating in Taiwan, prioritizing the growing elderly population dilemma by providing an accessible support network and services to the numerous aging individuals. Since Hondao’s development in 1995, it has developed 40 programs for older people. Every year, the organization impacts the lives of at least 10,000 senior citizens. In 2021, the organization provided disability assistance and daycare to 265,587 elders.

Homeless Taiwan Association

The Homeless Taiwan Association began in 2011 with a group of social workers from multiple eastern Asian countries. This charity operating in Taiwan strives to change the way poverty and homelessness are addressed. The Homeless Taiwan Association primarily fights for policies that will provide housing for people experiencing homelessness. Currently, the organization has 21 bed housing in four locations. Every year, the association is able to make a lasting impact on 30 to 50 individuals experiencing homelessness.  

The nonprofit understands that receiving public homeless housing is a challenging task, which is why the Homeless Taiwan Association runs the Hidden Taipei program to change the stigma surrounding the homeless population. Hidden Taipei offers guided tours by people who have experienced homelessness or are currently homeless. It’s a win-win for the tour guide and tourist. Guides earn 60% of the tour’s cost and change lives by sharing their life stories, while tourists listen, reflect and take in the cityscapes.

The Ark Association

The Ark Association’s mission is to bring love and care to every corner of Taiwan. Founder (and current Chairperson) Winny Wen began her journey in service work and volunteerism by dedicating her time to long-term care facilities. In 2014, the Ark Association originated. Today, the Ark Association truly touches lives in every corner of Taiwan by assisting multiple vulnerable groups. It mobilizes youth volunteers to help marginalized families, people without housing, older adults and rural areas. 

Specifically, the Ark Association is developing bathing centers that offer hygiene education for the homeless and delivering hot meals to individuals with unstable housing. Furthermore, the Ark Association is expanding outside of Taiwan by taking on school building projects in Nangquien, Qinghai and Cambodia.

Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation

In 1987, Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation (TWRF) originated. Its original purpose was to protect and support women who were victims of prostitution to Japanese soldiers during WWII. Today, the organization continues to help those victims through legal counseling and therapy options. Now, TWRF has broadened its support to domestic violence victims and to human trafficking victims. 

In 2005, 600,000 to 800,000 people in Taiwan were trafficking victims, and of that number, 50% were minors. From that point onward, TWRF began training volunteers to rescue underage sex trafficked victims. Continuing, TWRF also advocated for victims by contributing to lobbying. The TWRF has accomplished developing the “Children’s Welfare Act” and the “Youth’s Sexual Transaction Prevention Act” in order to protect these victims. Today, Taiwan’s trafficking in Persons Report reveals that the trafficking victims has significantly lowered to 279, thanks to organizations such as TWRF.

The Taiwan Love and Hope International Charity

The Taiwan Love and Hope International Charity is dedicated to giving care to children with disabilities or special needs. The nonprofit offers a variety of resources for children with disadvantages to be raised in a safe, encouraging environment. According to the Taiwan Health and Welfare Report of 2023, 51,043 individuals between the ages of 0 – 17 have disability certificates. 

The Taiwan Love and Hope International Charity has a childcare development center that teaches music classes, gym activities, parent-child bonding activities and parent education lessons. Currently, the charity operates two group homes, a childcare center with therapy options and an emergency shelter that offers 24-hour access.

Looking Ahead

Charities operating in Taiwan are enriching lives one person at a time. These examples of charities demonstrate how Taiwanese culture is rooted in compassion. 

– Mireya Aguilar

Mireya is based in Layton, UT, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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The Housing Market and Homelessness in Australia

Homelessness in AustraliaIn 2025, Australia is introducing new legislation to address the volatile housing market in Australia, which is affecting the country’s growing unhoused population. Australia is focusing on enforcing a new bill, which the Australian Capital Territory Greens leader, Shane Rattenbury, introduced. Now that Australian law has deemed the housing crisis inhumane, sufficient action to resolve the problem is imperative. 

The Human Rights Act begins January 2029 providing several years to lay the groundwork and set the plan into action with more than “3,400 approved applicants on the ACT’s public housing waitlist,” as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation stated. As a result of the passing of this new bill, those who do not have housing because of the unaffordable Australian housing market will likely benefit from this positive shift.

The Importance of Building More Houses

Building more houses is essential to the housing market in Australia. According to Bloomberg News, housing in Australia costs 14 times the annual disposable income. Acknowledging housing as a human right in the Australian Capital Territory is the first step toward addressing Australia’s housing crisis.

In 2024, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) found that 122,000 people were homeless in Australia. The price of rent continues to rise as employment wages remain stagnant. Australia’s housing shortage, in combination with various underlying economic issues, contributes to the lack of shelter. Meanwhile, the current social housing structure is insufficient for providing temporary housing to those in need due to waitlists. The shortage is so severe that homelessness is affecting the elderly, one of the most vulnerable populations in the region.

Consequently, the UNSW City Futures Research Centre found that homelessness in Australia is mostly due to rent increases that have escalated for several years. Rent inflation has reduced the quality of living and increased the number of unhoused people by an “extra 10,000” per month, according to The Guardian.

As a result, the need for social housing has skyrocketed with the need for thousands of homes to undergo construction to provide enough homes for the unhoused population. For this to become a reality, a reasonable amount of funding for homelessness services is essential before the problem is resolved.

In October 2025, homelessness services for children in Brisbane, Australia, surged to 48%; a portion of these children are toddlers. Micha Projects chief executive, Karyn Walsh, says to reporters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, “Poverty is growing in Australia, and we can’t take our eye off it. People’s lives are impacted; people die from it.”

Addressing Poverty and Homelessness in Australia

Since many families are suffering from poverty, the Brisbane Zero collaboration has involved itself with campaigns to end and mitigate homelessness, assisting 2,125 children and 1,230 families. In addition, the Queensland government has increased the state budget with a 20% increase in funding for homelessness services over a set time. Support from the state government is essential for solving the homelessness crisis in Australia.

In turn, several charities are offering assistance. According to Katy Watson, a BBC Australia correspondent, “Supermarkets donate food” and other charitable efforts include “a laundry service, a mobile doctor surgery and a hairdresser.” Additionally, chaplains give meals to the hungry. These resources are necessary for the unhoused community.  

Looking Ahead

Fortunately, several regions in Sydney will obtain new homes. The state government developer Landcom has outlined a plan to add more than 1,000 homes in Chatswood, New South Wales. Affordable living spaces and shopping centers are involved in this plan. In addition, 220 homes for essential workers are undergoing development in Annandale, Queensland.

– Lala McCullough

Lala is based in Brentwood, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash