Archive for category: Homelessness

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Unraveling Homelessness in Andorra: Challenges and Solutions

Homelessness in Andorra
Andorra, a small European nation nestled in the Pyrenees, lacks specific homelessness regulations but is committed to providing social housing and assistance to those in need. While homelessness regulations remain rare in the country, thanks in part to its robust service-based economy, which helps keep poverty levels low, non-governmental organizations such as Caritas Andorrana extend their support to non-resident homeless individuals, offering counseling, information dissemination and direct assistance. Additionally, the government has unveiled an extensive COVID-19 recovery plan, comprising more than 100 initiatives spanning social welfare, economic recovery and innovation.

Although 8% of Andorra’s population reportedly lives below the poverty line, it is essential to distinguish between poverty and homelessness. Severe material deprivation affects 5.7% of the population, but this does not equate to homelessness. Overall, while homelessness is not a significant issue in Andorra, some individuals may be at risk of homelessness or living in poverty.

Nonprofits Supporting the Homeless

Caritas Andorra, a prominent nonprofit organization in Andorra, stands at the forefront of assisting homeless individuals and families. Its comprehensive services encompass counseling, information dissemination and direct aid for those navigating challenging social situations. Additionally, the organization provides critical legal and therapeutic support to those in need. Caritas Andorrana strongly emphasizes the essential role of such nonprofit organizations in addressing homelessness in Andorra.

Local–International NGO Partnerships

Local groups in Andorra, including the commendable Caritas Andorra, play a crucial role in assisting disadvantaged populations, notably non-resident homeless individuals. Such partnerships bolster local capacity, enhance access to resources and effectively augment interventions.

Successful Collaborations

Andorra has effectively forged collaborations both within its borders and on the international stage. These collaborations encompass diverse sectors, such as innovation and sustainability. Entrepreneurship and innovation are significant focal points of Andorra’s economic development, evidenced by the recent launch of a sport-tech startup program. The Andorran Women’s Association actively works to combat domestic abuse. Additionally, collaborations with Endesa, a Spanish energy firm, have resulted in sustainability initiatives tailored to the region’s unique needs. Notably, the Spain & Andorra Climate Resilience Leadership Initiative engages Spanish and Andorran citizens in confronting the climate crisis through various initiatives. This collaborative effort not only promotes climate resilience and sustainability but also strengthens bilateral relations and fosters community engagement.

Factors Contributing to Success

Several factors have contributed to the success of various projects within Andorra. Collaboration involving government agencies, non-governmental organizations and international entities has played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of various initiatives. Moreover, innovation, often resulting from partnerships with international centers and entities, has enhanced the competitiveness and sustainability of Andorra’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Collaborative projects, including those with Endesa, have yielded sustainability initiatives attuned to local needs. Engaging the community in initiatives like the Spain & Andorra Climate Resilience Leadership Initiative promotes climate resilience and sustainability. These efforts collectively address various challenges, including homelessness, through collaborative endeavors.

Empathizing with Andorran Homeless

While specific homelessness empathy campaigns are scantily documented, Andorra’s various initiatives demonstrate empathy toward vulnerable populations. Caritas Andorra’s provision of primary care, psychiatric support, legal counsel and clothing to homeless non-residents showcases a commitment to helping those in need. The Andorran Women’s Association actively aids domestic abuse victims, addressing the needs of marginalized groups with empathy and compassion. Furthermore, Andorra’s status as one of the safest countries, marked by its efficient police force and low crime rate, indirectly fosters empathy and community engagement, promoting a secure environment for all residents.

Andorran Campaigns and Initiatives

Andorra’s focus extends beyond homelessness, encompassing sustainability, social welfare and community engagement. Endesa’s collaboration with local stakeholders in developing community-specific sustainability projects underscores Andorra’s commitment to environmentally responsible growth. Caritas Andorrana plays a pivotal role in promoting dignity, growth and social welfare among vulnerable populations. The Spain & Andorra Climate Resilience Leadership Initiative exemplifies community engagement in addressing changing weather patterns. These initiatives collectively promote social, economic and environmental well-being, although specific homelessness-focused measures are lacking.

Andorran Sustainability Initiatives

Andorra actively promotes sustainability and environmental protection. The Sustainable Andorra Centre, a government platform, is dedicated to environmental education and promoting sustainability principles. Comprehensive recycling plans have been implemented to minimize waste and improve sustainability. Moreover, Andorra’s participation in global sustainable development accords, including the Paris Agreement to combat changing weather patterns and the Convention on Biological Diversity, underscores its commitment to global sustainability standards. These initiatives engage the community in environmental awareness and foster sustainability.

Conclusion

Andorra’s collaborative efforts and empathetic initiatives promote inclusivity, sustainability and a compassionate society.

– Robert Gaziano
Photo: Flickr

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China’s Housing Paradox

Housing Paradox
Since August 2021, China’s housing market has been in steep decline, which could spell disaster given that real estate constitutes almost a third of China’s economy. With Ghost Cities remaining empty across the country, a housing paradox presents itself, in which there is a huge housing surplus, yet also a large homeless population. Redefining what it means to be homeless in the context of China’s hukou system provides a way forward that could benefit both its affluent, as well as those at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

The Hukou

 The hukou is a Chinese registration system that gives citizens preferential access to jobs, health care, land and other services in their birth area. However, this scheme was put in place to curb mass migration towards cities as the country began to industrialize. By prohibiting people from jobs, schools and buying land from areas outside of the space they were assigned to under the hukou, it effectively prohibited internal migration. 

This restrictive system resulted in huge inequalities across the country as Maoist Socialism favored cities due to their economic potential, whilst rural areas were left underfunded and subjected to forcibly low grain procurement prices. Consequently, rural poverty was rampant, reaching a height of 96% in 1980. Fei-Ling Wang, political scientist and author of “Organizing Through Division and Exclusion: China’s Hukou System,” says that the hukou was essentially a caste system in which city babies were born into privilege.

Former Chairman Deng Xiaoping’s government relaxed the system in the 1980s, allowing internal migration. However, people originating from rural regions still lack many rights to formal employment, property and education for their children in cities, allowing inequality to persist. 

While China’s government estimated that just above 1% of the population was homeless in 2019, He et al. advocate expanding the definition of homeless. Rural migrants are forced by hukou restrictions to live in overcrowded and unsanitary informal settlements in cities. Alongside poverty, said settlements are very precarious as they could easily be cleared without any notice, given that migrants have no legal claim to the land. In the American Journal of Sociology and Economics, Huili He et al. expand the definition of homeless to include struggling rural migrants, so that China’s homeless population reaches 300 million, which is more than 20% of the population. Clearly, China’s government is minimizing the homelessness problem, which is better characterized as a crisis. 

The Housing Bubble

While it would be an exaggeration to say that China’s housing market is in freefall, private data shows house prices are steeply declining, with prices in tier 1 cities such as Beijing and Shanghai falling by more than 15%. This is far above government estimates.

China’s huge population created huge demand which propelled the housing market to this size. Also, due to a lack of investment alternatives, many citizens buy secondary or even tertiary homes as a form of investment. These homes are often sold after their prices have increased, or they are given to future generations of children and grandchildren. Regarding supply, Chinese local officials tend to invest in huge housing projects to reach high GDP growth targets and improve their reputation in Beijing. 

Consequently, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, supply began to far outstrip demand as China’s birth rate slowed. The country is littered with ghost cities. These are huge developments with countless towering apartment blocks that are uninhabited. One of the most famous is Ordos City, which attracted attention in 2009 for being empty. A Forbes update in 2016 noted that 100,000 people lived there, although the city was originally built for more than 1 million. 

China’s attempts to achieve ‘zero COVID’ resulted in numerous lockdowns, some lasting into 2022. This had many ramifications. Many property developers risked defaulting on their loans. Chinese properties are often sold prior to their construction and many residents had exchanged their land in return for a newly constructed apartment. However, some construction projects have ground to a halt, resulting in many residing in cramped temporary housing with little hope for a home. With a vacancy rate of over 20%, this contraction in supply has applied no upward pressure to prices.

Regarding demand, the plight of developers has severely shaken consumer confidence, resulting in many choosing to save rather than invest in real estate. The COVID-19 pandemic also diminished purchasing power and increased youth unemployment to more than 20%. Therefore, more young people live with their parents, diminishing the need for secondary and tertiary properties. Real estate demand has steeply fallen, depressing prices. 

The Paradox

China is confronted with a housing paradox. The housing market is crashing, yet more than a fifth of the Chinese population is homeless. While many efforts have focused on curbing rural-to-urban migration, ghost cities present a wiser alternative. The government should focus on ending its concentration of services and opportunities in tier 1 cities and spread them further out across the country in lower tier cities. This would attract migrants away from Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai towards cities that are underpopulated. It would both increase real estate demand and decrease homelessness. 

However, solving this housing paradox demands many prerequisites. First, it would require huge government planning and assistance to facilitate migration and aid those at the bottom of society to get onto the property ladder. While NGOs such as the China Foundation for Rural Development have been very successful at alleviating rural poverty through diverting tourism to these areas, much urban poverty has been ignored. Second, this solution would require abolishing, or at least significantly relaxing, the hukou. The Lowy Institute claims that this would increase housing demand and overall be a significant boost for the Chinese economy. However, relaxations to the hukou have been very slow, and its cultural significance should not be underestimated — meaning that abolishing it is a huge task. 

China’s housing paradox presents the country with a stark truth. If its economy hopes to survive, it needs to significantly reform culturally and end its highly restrictive migration policy in favor of free market labor and service movements. Whether the one-party system is willing to allow this remains to be seen. 

– Ryan Ratnam
Photo: Flickr

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ADRA and Their Work in Serbia

ADRA in Serbia

The Impact of COVID-19

On March 15, 2020, Serbia declared a national emergency due to COVID-19. Following the declaration and the decrease in economic activity, the working hours offered in Serbia declined by an estimated 14.8% during the second quarter of 2020. More than 700,000 workers were at immediate risk, including those in wholesale trade, transport services and crop and animal production.

Since the pandemic, Serbia has faced many challenges, including rising energy and food prices, rising inflation and slow trade. Without structural reform, many feel as though there cannot be a boost in productivity. 

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency 

ADRA, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, has provided counseling and medical checkups for the homeless and displaced in Serbia, as well as transportation to health care institutions and other health care services. During the lockdown, children in Serbia also received tutoring from ADRA teachers, and this continues in 2023, as children in poverty receive education services from ADRA. 

Education

In Serbia, 45% of children will drop out of school once they reach 11 years of age, because of poverty and a lack of support for education. Yearly, ADRA supports 150 students who are a part of socially vulnerable families to enroll in school, advance their education and prevent dropout. ADRA provides links to employers for these students once they leave school.

Homelessness

ADRA estimates there are 5,000 to 15,000 persons who face homelessness in the capital of Serbia. ADRA supports up to 1,000 with mobile showers and laundry, as well as health care and psychological support. The organization works with authorities to ensure the proper implementation of relevant policies and to create new ways to end homelessness. Monthly, ADRA provides 550 hygiene, 350 health care and 450 psychological services to the homeless population in Serbia. 

ADRA trains local police to work with the homeless population. They also issue personal IDs and insurance to the impoverished people of Serbia. Yearly, ADRA lifts 130 homeless people out of their difficult living situations so they are able to restore their social lives and integrate into society.

Current Projects 

In Belgrade, ADRA has assisted in the renovation of a church. This renovation is meant to house a church congregation with some apartments offered to key workers. Currently, the organization is holding classes for Roma refugee children on Sunday mornings to improve their education. This is to help these children get into schools. ARDA runs formal education classes as well as informal ones where children learn about essential life skills and discuss the effects of smoking, drugs and alcohol consumption.

ADRA’s vision is to work with churches in Serbia to provide opportunities to break generational poverty and help victims of economic and political policies. 

– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Homelessness Through Architectural Design

Addressing homelessness through architectural design
Around the world, there are an estimated 150 million people homeless. Even more striking, 1.6 billion lack access to safe and secure housing. Exact rates of homelessness are difficult to pin down due to unstandardized definitions. This means that even more people may lack adequate housing than statistics show. Solving homelessness is a complex problem that requires a multi-faceted solution. Many think of building homes as a first measure and, though this can be a viable short-term solution, architecture has a much larger role to play. There are both negative and positive consequences of addressing homelessness through architectural design. 

Architecture That Alienates

Park benches and city sidewalks are commonplace for most. However, for many, these communal spaces are isolating. Over the years, the terms “hostile,” “anti-homeless” and “defensive” architecture have become popular ways to describe architecture intended to prevent homeless populations from using items or spaces. Examples of hostile architecture include benches with multiple armrests or odd shapes and metal or concrete spikes on sidewalks. 

These designs are used to prevent people from sleeping on the structures and many cities employ them as temporary solutions to homelessness. However, there is little evidence that these designs are helpful in the long run. It is actually less expensive to house the homeless. Homelessness is associated with greater health costs that can be reduced with adequate housing. Hostile architecture hides the problem of homelessness rather than addressing its root causes. These structures not only affect homeless populations but can also limit access for the elderly and disabled. In this way, addressing homelessness through architectural design only alienates the homeless from public spaces and makes communities less cohesive, as a whole. 

Anti-Hostile Architecture

Still, architecture has the potential to be more inclusive. RainCity Housing tackles housing issues through a variety of programs. The organization, based in Vancouver, received attention for its bench campaign in which public benches were converted into temporary shelters with expandable roofs to protect sleepers from inclement weather. 

The benches raise awareness against anti-homeless designs and provide temporary shelter for those in need. However, as evidenced by the inclusion of RainCity Housing’s address on the benches, the organization is also focused on more permanent solutions. Among its many programs are overdose prevention sites, peer witnessing programs and supportive housing shelters. 

Across the ocean, the German Ulmer Nest team of designers launched a pilot project of solar-powered sleeping pods. Designed with the cold, winter months in mind, these pods provide a quick place to rest. They are waterproof and lock from the inside. Additionally, a social worker is alerted when the pods are used, allowing for cleaning after the person leaves. The pods are meant to be last-resort options for those who may not have access to shelters; a starting point to get people into real housing. 

Inclusive Interiors

Interior design is not to be overlooked. Poverty and homelessness are strongly associated with mental health issues. Living without stable housing is correlated with greater psychological distress that can affect multiple generations. Research shows that interior designing such as lighting and decorations can have psychological effects. With this in mind, interior spaces can be designed to provide the homeless with a sense of dignity. Poorly designed shelters can exacerbate negative outcomes. Many express discomfort with sleeping in open rooms with groups of strangers and unsanitary conditions drive others away. Shelters should promote a sense of safety, conducive to recovery. This may include calming paint colors and lighting, incorporation of plant life and inclusive layouts. 

Architects Building a Better Future

Chris Hildrey, architect and founder of ProxyAddress, says that “architects have a duty to use their skills to help solve societal problems even if it means thinking beyond designing buildings.” Shelters and emergency housing are useful short-term initiatives. However, architects have the power to contribute to more long-term solutions. 

The “housing first” model focuses on providing stable housing as a first priority. Other models require people to qualify for housing by undergoing mental health programs or proving they can live independently. Housing is dispersed throughout neighborhoods, avoiding the overcrowding often associated with shelters. Results of this model show that it leads to greater retention of housing and reduced health costs. The model started in the United States but has since been implemented in other regions such as Europe where it is supporting homeless women and youth. 

Yasmeen Lari is another architect addressing homelessness through architectural design. The 82-year-old Pakistani architect, who won the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for architecture, champions indigenous building methods to help marginalized populations. Her Barefoot Social Architecture (BASA) philosophy involves displaced people first-hand in the architectural process. It provides training programs to teach people to build sustainable and affordable housing. These skills can be used to gain income, helping communities become self-sustaining. 

Addressing homelessness through architectural design does not stop at building houses. Architects can facilitate the creation of more inclusive private and public spaces while promoting financial independence. 

– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: Unsplash

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The New Generation of Street Children Turned Surfers

Street ChildrenThe imagery of the breezy, laid-back Californian surfer has dominated the popular view of surfing over the years. Easygoing and happy-go-lucky, the figure of the surfer has come to symbolize the very notion of what it means to be young and free in a capitalist society. Yet, far beyond the shores of California to South Africa’s “Surf City,” the sport symbolizes much more than this. It plays an important role in helping vulnerable children who are growing up in post-apartheid South Africa to leave the street once and for all. 

Homelessness in Durban 

Located on the eastern coast of South Africa, Durban has a high population of youths — 38% of its population is under the age of 19.

However, the youth employment rate (the measurement of job seekers who are 15 to 24 years old) in South Africa is markedly low, at about 60%. Job losses are particularly high in industries such as food, textiles and clothing, making it difficult for young people to secure a living. 

But one of the most pressing problems facing South Africa is its street child phenomenon. According to the Consortium for Street Children, there are currently hundreds of thousands of street children in South Africa. 

Child homelessness is on the rise in Durban because of political violence, rapid urbanization and outbreaks of AIDS and HIV, resulting in many children losing members of their family. 

Difficulties at home and at school have also contributed to an increase in the number of children actively choosing to live on the streets. In many cases, children feel that street life offers an escape from the harsh conditions of everyday life, and the charity Street Children found that 29.1% of street children surveyed in 2011 did not wish to leave the streets at all. 

Even so, street life exposes children to a number of dangers, including sexual abuse and trafficking. These risks are further compounded by the lack of health and social services available to children in Durban. 

The local authorities, who view street children as a public nuisance, are eager to keep the street child phenomenon hidden so that tourists are not deterred from visiting Durban. However, this only stigmatizes and alienates street children further, rather than getting to the crux of the problem. 

Beach Apartheid 

Many of the social and economic problems present in Durban today are a consequence of the apartheid period, which lasted from 1948 to 1994. 

Apartheid was an institutionalized system that subjected Black people to racial segregation in every sphere of South African society. It was a system that even sought to marginalize Black people in the water.  

The Natal and South African Surf Riding Championships welcomed pro-surfers from all around the world, placing South Africa firmly on the map. Yet Black people were excluded from competing, contradicting the so-called “freedom” that the sport promised young people. 

That was until world-renowned surfers Tom Carroll, Tom Curren and Martin Potter boycotted the surfing competitions in 1985, forcing the industry to acknowledge the growing anti-apartheid movement. 

Surfers Not Street Children (SNSC)

Fast-forward to 1998, surfer and activist Tom Hewitt MBE set up the Durban Street Team to help homeless children. The organization was renamed Surfers Not Street Children (SNSC) in 2012 and has since helped 1,800 vulnerable children. 

While helping children to leave the streets was the organization’s main goal, many street children have also gone on to advocate further for their rights as a marginalized group. The organization operates in line with the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure that children are provided with the space to empower themselves without the fear of discrimination and shame. 

In 2000, SNSC prevented local authorities from forcibly removing children from the streets, which is recognized as one of its most important achievements to date.

According to the organization, “Many children empowered by Surfers Not Street Children have transformed their lives. Some have gone from ‘street children’ to becoming coffee baristas, lifesavers, surf shop staff, restaurateurs, surf coaches and even pro surfers.”

South Africa’s Changing Tides 

The organization is now expanding its influence to the shores of Mozambique, providing children with the life skills needed to tackle the social problems they face. SNSC has also gone on to set up an independent living program that is designed to provide financial and social aid to young people transitioning into adulthood once they have left the surfing program. Through invaluable mentoring sessions, SNSC is making sure that children are able to thrive as self-sustaining adults. 

In honor of his outstanding work helping children in South Africa, Tom Hewitt received the Nelson Mandela Change Changemaker Award in May this year at an exclusive event in California. Hewitt told Carve magazine, “I am so thrilled to receive this award, which recognizes 25 years of pioneering work developing surfing as a tool for bringing about positive change. Not only are we working in the toughest environments and saving lives, but our surfers are at the heart of an exciting transformation in African surfing underway across the continent.”

Surfers Not Street Children is actively carving out the space for street children to challenge the status quo, break the poverty cycle and debunk the myth that surfing is a white man’s sport. In the 21st century, it is clear that this new generation of surfing youth is changing the tides by shifting the boundaries of who can and cannot ride the wave.  

– Tatum Richards
Photo: Flickr

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Homelessness in Belize

Homelessness in BelizeIn Belize, the rate of poverty hovers around 42%. Many Belizeans do not have the financial resources or means to access adequate clothing, shelter and food. Not surprisingly, most of Belize’s homeless population falls vulnerable to informal housing and shelter lacking appropriate plumbing, sanitary conditions and infrastructure. To address homelessness in Belize, outside organizations offer resources and assistance to vulnerable families, individuals and communities. 

Cost of Living 

For a typical family of four living in Belize, monthly expenses far outweigh income. Average monthly costs total around $2,500, without rent, while the average net salary comes in around $950 per month. Furthermore, the cost of housing can be relatively high compared to average incomes, contributing to affordability issues for low-income individuals and families. With an unemployment rate of 9.7% as of 2022, many Belizeans are plunged into poverty, unable to afford a roof over their heads. 

Furthermore, essential goods and services are becoming increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible, especially for rural communities. Urban centers present more comprehensive ranges of housing options, whereas rural areas provide limited options and aid for vulnerable people. As a result, there are a large number of informal settlements and unauthorized settlement areas, that lack the proper legal recognition, infrastructure and basic amenities. 

Impact on Children

Notably, children are the most vulnerable to homelessness. UNICEF finds that half of the children in Belize under the age of 15 are classified as poor. Homelessness among children means that the most vulnerable in society lack basic needs, threatening the development and nourishment of young, fragile livelihoods. In conjunction, UNICEF and ECLAC (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) find that “6 out of 10 children in Belize lack at least one of these basic needs: adequate nutrition, clean drinking water, proper sanitation, adequate housing and access to education and information.”

A home is fundamental to properly care for and support a child. To alleviate the risks and adverse effects of homelessness on children, comprehensive support for the continuation and stability of a child’s education promotes positive outcomes. Addressing the unique needs of homeless families and children involves access to stable housing, nutritious food, health care, and targeted programs for mental health support.

Initiatives to Reduce Homelessness

Countering homelessness in Belize requires a combination of efforts, including affordable housing initiatives, rent subsidies, homelessness prevention programs and comprehensive poverty alleviation efforts. Here is a list of varying organizations and comprehensive plans fighting for people experiencing homelessness.

  • The Welcome Resource Centre – Since opening its doors in 2013, the Welcome Resource Centre continues to offer daily hot meals, hygiene facilities and a safe place for the homeless and mentally ill. With over 400 registered homeless, the center hosts over 50 persons per day. Furthermore, they provide educational guidance in pursuit of employment the homeless and opportunities to develop skills. In engagement with those suffering from mental illness, WRC hosts daily programs encouraging physical and mental involvement in purposeful, therapeutic activities. In addition, the organization sponsors counseling for individuals, groups and families. 
  • Hand in Hand – Hand in Hand is an organization rooted in Belize City, building homes for Belizean families. Working with the NGO Building for Change, volunteers work alongside impoverished families, creating not only a home but also cementing personal connections with the families. Since 2002, over 450 homes have been built, providing vulnerable families with the safety and shelter of a house.   
  • Remar Belize – In pursuit of their mission to “fight for disadvantaged people in Belize to relieve all suffering from poverty, social exclusion, sickness and particularly among people affected by substance addictions,” Remar Belize offers several programs and assistance to aid those struggling with homelessness. These initiatives include temporary/permanent shelter, personal hygiene, food, clothing, occupational skills training and pedagogical activities. Their work continues to evolve and serve the most vulnerable, most importantly acting as a hub for those who have no other option.
  • Hope Haven Belize – Hope Haven Belize, working in the San Pedro area, serves over 150 women and children. Their efforts primarily focus on supporting children, providing shelter and care for “children who have been abandoned, neglected or sexually and physically abused by their parents or guardians.” Hope Haven also supports Colleen’s Kitchen Food Bank, provides counseling services and hosts empowerment programs for youth and young women. 

Going Forward

The World Health Organization recognizes that “housing is a fundamental social determinant of Health and is recognized by the United Nations as a fundamental human right, and not a luxury, as many Belizeans still believe.” Through the work of several organizations, the homeless can access shelter and resources that invest and promote opportunities to re-introduce individuals into society and out of poverty. Reducing homelessness in Belize takes a multi-dimensional approach that requires collaboration between communities and organizations to establish positive solutions that empower all Belizeans.

– Emmalyn Meyer
Photo: Flickr

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The Impact of Typhoon Doksuri in the Philippines

Typhoon Doksuri in the PhilippinesOn July 26, 2023, Typhoon Doksuri struck the Philippines, affecting 502,782 Filipinos. The impact was significant, leading to unfortunate consequences. According to the national disaster agency, 13 individuals lost their lives due to flooding and landslides. Tragedy further unfolded as a ferry boat capsized due to Doksuri’s powerful winds, resulting in an additional 26 fatalities. Notably, Doksuri possessed the intensity of a Category 4 hurricane. This calamity forced more than 42,000 Filipinos to evacuate their homes, adding to the ongoing homelessness crisis in the country.

Homelessness in the Philippines 

Roughly 4.5 million people, out of the country’s total population of 106 million, were reported homeless in January 2023. This dire situation primarily stems from job losses, inadequate income and job instability. The homelessness crisis was further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelle Sicat, a 28-year-old single mother, relocated to Manila in pursuit of employment and secured a job as a shop assistant. Leaving her daughter and parents behind, she aimed to build a career. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit abruptly, leading to a strict lockdown across Luzon, the island where Manila is situated. The ensuing business closures left Sicat unemployed.

Desperate to return to her family, Sicat rushed to the bus station but faced immense competition for limited seats due to the overwhelming demand. She sought refuge at Manila Baywalk, and her life suddenly upended.

The issue of homelessness persists in the Philippines, with Typhoon Doksuri worsening the crisis, displacing more than 42,831 individuals (and the numbers continue to rise), all in search of shelter.

This challenge perpetuates the cycle of poverty throughout the nation. According to World Bank data, 6.1% of Filipinos live on less than ₱104 per day ($1.89), while 26% survive on less than ₱175.37 per day ($3.19) and a substantial 55.1% live on less than ₱301.42 per day ($5.49).

In the wake of this natural disaster, numerous organizations worldwide are mobilizing to provide financial assistance to the Philippines.

Aid From the European Union (EU)

The EU offered an initial €500,000 (approximately ₱30.3 million) for humanitarian relief efforts including emergency shelter, shelter repair, clean water and sanitation to those most in need. 

Luzon, the regions of Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos region and the Cordillera Administrative region were among the most affected and are the target of the EU’s support. 

“The EU expresses its swift and unwavering support to the Filipino people during the aftermath of typhoon Doksuri, which resulted in extensive devastation and tragic loss of life in the Philippines,” said EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič. “Without delay, we have initiated emergency relief efforts in close collaboration with our humanitarian partners to aid those affected during this challenging period.” 

Americares’ Support

Americares is an organization that works to aid impoverished communities or those affected by natural disasters in health necessities. The organization is present in the Philippines, working to support the country as it deals with the results of typhoon Doksuri. 

An Americares mobile medical team left the major city of Manila to offer primary health care to communities in the Isabela province. Flooding was severe in this area and left many roads impassable. 

Paul Pagaran, Americares Philippines Country Director, said “Communities will be cut off from care and will need help providing essential health services, including treatment for waterborne diseases,” shortly after the storm touched land on July 26, 2023. Also, the Americares team distributed hygiene kits to many who suffered displacement due to the storm. 

Looking Ahead

In the aftermath of Typhoon Doksuri, despite the challenges it brought to the Philippines, the international community is rallying to provide support. The EU’s rapid response, offering financial aid for emergency relief efforts, demonstrates solidarity with the affected Filipinos. Organizations like Americares are also playing a crucial role, sending medical teams and hygiene kits to areas in need. While the typhoon exacerbated the ongoing homelessness crisis and poverty cycle, these collective efforts are providing a glimmer of hope for those struggling to rebuild their lives and find a path toward recovery.

– Taylor Barbadora
Photo: Flickr

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The Reasons Homelessness in Monaco Does Not Exist

Homelessness in Monaco
Monaco immediately brings to mind extravagant casinos, roaring race cars and lavish yachts. This impression is a correctly informed one as the GDP per capita in the nation is $234,317, making it one of the wealthiest countries in the world. With almost 68% of the population consisting of foreigners taking up residence in the country, and ethnic Monegasques generally being very wealthy, the absence of data about homelessness in Monaco is not surprising; homelessness simply does not exist. However, the reasons for this fact are much more nuanced than “everyone is rich.” An analysis of the Principalities’ institutions, economy and culture, provides useful insight into how the nation effectively removed homelessness from its society.

The Government

The Grimaldi dynasty has ruled the Principality of Monaco, a constitutional monarchy, since 1914. Additionally, it has a unicameral legislature with 24 seats and a judicial branch with seven members. Elections for the legislature undergo calculation through both simple majority and proportional representation, creating a fair and equitable system. Any Monegasque citizen over the age of 18 can vote in elections.

The prince and his government are adamant about providing a strong social safety net for the country’s citizens and residents. These services include rent-controlled housing, free apartments for those who need them and health care. Access to these services depends on one’s status with the government. Naturally, Monegasque nationals receive top priority to all of the government services. Additionally, the state provides benefits, such as health care, to non-citizen residents.

The Economy

Monaco’s economy centers on service. Tourism and banking are the biggest industries in the nation, creating the $7.6 billion RGDP that the country had in 2015. The state takes a very pro-business approach toward its development. The government’s website states that modernizing business law and incentivizing firms to relocate to the principality will create a high level of economic activity within the country and its surrounding region, which has been true. This strategy is coupled with the relatively simple process of acquiring residency, which strongly influences investment in the principality. Further, all a person needs is proof of accommodation and proof of self-sufficiency to become a resident, making it, bureaucratically speaking, a fairly simple process to obtain the status.

Culture

Despite the government’s accommodations, the citizenship process is a long and difficult one. With citizenship comes many benefits such as guaranteed health care, efficient rent-controlled housing, a promise of education and a plethora of other services so, naturally, the government is not handing it out to anyone who asks. The easiest way to gain citizenship is to be born from Monegasque parents. If not, individuals must live in Monaco for at least 10 years before they can even be considered for the application, and if approved, they must relinquish all other citizenship.

The rigorous path to residency and naturalization reveals an important cultural phenomenon when thinking about the lack of homelessness in Monaco. Due to the high standards of citizenship and the long history between the people and the state, Monegasques have formed a strong national identity. Further, this relationship has created a sense of camaraderie and responsibility from person to person, person to state and state to person. This nation-building process makes the elimination of homelessness possible, as institutions and society work in conjunction to maintain a standard of living for everyone within the ingroup.

While Monaco is the land of the super-wealthy, the reason for the lack of homelessness is a nuanced discussion. Through the country’s effective institutions and tight-knit community, it has been able to eliminate homelessness within its borders by utilizing a strong social safety net.

– Eduardo Gonzalez del Valle
Photo: Pexels

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Finland

Poverty Eradication in FinlandAcross the world, more than 150 million people are homeless, around 783 million lack food security and more than half the global population lacks essential health services. Among countries, Finland stands out as a pioneer in implementing innovative solutions to combat mass poverty. The following is a brief look into innovations behind poverty eradication in Finland.

Decline in Homelessness

From 2006 to 2007, Finland experienced a spike in the number of homeless people, the first since 1998. This prompted a focus on addressing homelessness and led to innovations in poverty eradication. The main innovation Finland implemented was the Housing First policy. Enacted in 2008, the Housing First policy has dropped the number of homeless people from more than 8,000 to 3,686 in 2022. This correlates to a 50% reduction in the number of homeless people in Finland in 14 years. The Housing First policy works by granting homeless people access to long-term housing as opposed to the more common temporary shelters. These rental housing units are innovative as they are financially viable and provide the homeless with substantial social support, such as better employment opportunities.

As more homeless people acquired jobs, the unemployment rate dropped by 2.6% from 2015 to 2022. This has, in turn, stimulated Finland’s economy and compensated for the cost of these rental units, thereby highlighting the efficiency of the Housing First policy. Overall, the Housing First policy benefited more than 4,000 individuals through housing, and an additional 137,208 through job opportunities.

Stable Food Security

Food security has become a non-issue in Finland due to innovative approaches dominating the Food and Agriculture industry. One such innovation is the prevalence of vertical farms. Vertical farms have revolutionized food security within Finland as they maximize space (no need for arable land), are pesticide-free, decrease water usage by 90%, cultivate up to 2.5 times more yield and have rapid scaling potential (from 500 to 20,000 sq.m). Vertical farms have proven to be positively transformative as they have successfully increased access to cheaper and healthier foods. Each vertical farm, such as the one in Pirkkala, Finland, has the potential to feed more than 20,000 people.

Another innovation in Finland is the recent creation of Solein, a natural protein produced using air and electricity. The creation of Solein has the potential to increase food security in Finland as it exceeds the bounds of traditional proteins. Solein can be used in meat, cheese, dairy, bread, pasta, drinks, etc. Solein’s versatility makes it suitable for various food products, offering a cost-effective alternative for nutritious food seekers.

As a result of these food security innovations, Finland achieved a score of 83.7 on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) in 2022, the highest among countries. As opposed to the world average of 11.7 % in 2022, Finland’s food insecurity rate remains relatively low at 2.5%. The country’s innovations have prevented 511,233 people from falling into poverty.

Effective Health Care

Finland is lauded for its health care system as it offers a variety of services at affordable prices. One way Finland achieves this is through the innovative Kela Card. In terms of health care, the Kela Card plays a key role, in reimbursing people for medical prescriptions, ill-related absences, travel and a portion of private health care expenses. The Kela Card is an integral component of Finland’s health care system because every citizen and permanent resident of Finland receives it. The Kela Card also provides social security and employment benefits. Its very design allows it to assist those who are struggling to maintain a stable income and provides them with social benefits. This has, in turn, benefitted more than 360,000 people in Finland each year.

Innovations in poverty eradication in Finland extend to medical hardware as well. Finnish tech company Sooma developed a portable medical device for depression treatment. This device is portable and requires no expertise to use, thus reducing the medical costs associated with depression. Another medical instrument, created by Optomed, captures retinal images and diagnoses diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. This device is innovative as it is the most affordable camera of its kind. The efficiency of medical equipment in Finland has allowed people to avoid the excessive costs associated with modern health care.

What is Next?

Finland continues to pursue poverty eradication through ongoing innovation. These modern solutions have already contributed to a 1.4% drop in poverty rates between 2019 and 2020. Ultimately, the success of Finland’s innovations could serve as a model and inspiration for other countries looking to alleviate poverty.  

– Manav Yarlagadda
Photo: Unsplash

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Prince William’s Fight Against Homelessness

Fight Against HomelessnessIn the United Kingdom (U.K.), eight in 10 people think homelessness is a serious issue in the country. A study by Shelter shows that at least 270,000 people are reportedly homeless in the U.K., with 123,000 being children. Engaging in the fight against homelessness is Prince William, who has recently launched Homewards, a new project that aims to eradicate homelessness in the U.K.

Types of Homelessness in the UK

  • Rough Sleeping: Rough sleeping includes sleeping outside or in places that are not ideal for sleeping, such as in a car or an abandoned building. It is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness, leading to instances of violence and challenges to mental and physical health, trauma and substance abuse.
  • Temporary Accommodation: When necessary, people can stay in temporary accommodation for a period of time, ranging from one night to several years. There are many different types of accommodation, including hostels, winter shelters and women’s housing, each accommodation with its own set of rules and accommodation options.
  • Statutory Homelessness: To be legally classified as homeless, a person must either lack a secure place to live or face unreasonable conditions that make it difficult to stay there. The Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Act 2002 have established statutory obligations on local housing authorities to provide assistance for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • Hidden Homelessness: Those who have no entitlements to aid with housing or who choose not to ask their council for help sometimes choose to stay in temporary accommodation, and as a result, homelessness statistics often do not account for them.

Homelessness in the UK

There are several causes of homelessness, ranging from social reasons, such as unaffordable rent and unemployment, to circumstances like leaving prison or care with no home to return to forcing people into being homeless. Women in particular can find themselves homeless after escaping physically abusive relationships.

Homelessness can have a severe effect on both physical and mental health. Not only is the average death rate for people experiencing homelessness 46% for men and 42% for women, but homeless people are also nine times more likely to take their own life than the general population. Homelessness also increases the risk of violence — more than one in three homeless people who are rough sleeping are deliberately kicked or hit. Seven in 10 people believe society should pay more attention to homelessness, and six in 10 believe there are several ways in which people can contribute to the fight against homelessness.

Homewards

Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales have recently launched Homewards: a locally led, five-year program aiming to end homelessness by forming local coalitions of committed people, organizations and businesses. Six flagship locations across the UK will be supported by Homewards in this endeavor: Aberdeen, Sheffield, Newport, Lambeth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Northern Ireland.

The support provided includes up to £500,000 of flexible funding, a local lead to drive action and, finally, a research partner to evaluate success.

Prince William said that he “first visited a homelessness shelter when [he] was eleven, with [his] mother,” and that he has been inspired to follow in her footsteps, continuing the humanitarian work his mother started.

In 2009, Prince William also chose to spend a night sleeping in an alleyway under Blackfriars Bridge in below-freezing conditions, with his only companions being his private secretary and Seyi Obakin, the chief executive of British homeless charity Centrepoint. At the time, the Prince said he hoped that by “deepening [his] understanding of the issue,” he can “do [his] bit” to help fight homelessness.

Homewards is the first major project the Prince of Wales has launched since his father, King Charles III, ascended the throne. Prince William has described Homewards as his ‘lifelong mission.’ Hopefully, with Prince William leading this new initiative, the very serious issue of homelessness in the U.K. can draw more attention and encourage more help and financial aid in the fight against homelessness.

– Sheherazade Al Shahry
Photo: Unsplash