How Seoul’s homeless population decreased by 30% over six years

Posted on : 2017-02-26 14:38 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
City government provided temporary housing, jobs and support to get the down and out back on their feet
Homeless people in Seoul
Homeless people in Seoul

After his business folded, his family split up and his credit rating tanked, a man surnamed Won, 58, ended up sleeping at homeless shelters while doing day labor at construction sites. A helping hand was extended to him by a support center funded by Seoul Metropolitan Government to help the down and out get back on their feet. Along with a subsidy for temporary housing, the center got Won a job on the Korail janitorial crew. While working as a janitor, Won pursued his dream of starting over, and this month he landed a position at a publishing company. Now that he has a chance of repairing his credit rating, which was preventing his financial recovery, he’s looking forward to being reunited with his family.

Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Feb. 23 that 447, or 75%, of the 597 homeless people to whom it provided rent for up to six months were still supporting themselves instead of going back to the streets even after their residential subsidies ended. The city arranged for 164 of them find jobs in the public and private sectors and helped 148 others whose health issues prevented them from finding work to sign up for the government’s Basic Livelihood Benefits. The city also helped the homeless renew their resident registration and to sign up for disability assistance, provided them with medical help, covered the transportation cost for getting to job interviews and going to work and provided them with daily necessities, such as bedding and underwear.

As a result of such assistance policies, the number of homeless people in Seoul has reportedly fallen by about 30% over the past six years. Last year, 3,436 homeless people were reported in central Seoul, which was 1,431 (29.4%) fewer than 2010, when there were 4,867. In addition, the number of homeless people on the streets (who are not receiving assistance from shelters) decreased by 163 (39.2%), from 527 to 320. The total number of homeless has been falling each year: 4,586 in 2011, 3,934 in 2014 and 3,708 in 2015.

This year, the city is planning to expand its financial support program to 600 and to manage them carefully to ensure that all of the homeless in the program become self-sufficient. “Homeless people who aren’t a good fit for shelters because they have trouble adjusting to communal living will be provided with temporary residences and jobs as part of our plan to help them return to society,” said Yoon So-yong, head of Seoul’s self-sufficiency assistance section.

By Won Nak-yeon, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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