Urban homeless reveal loose ends of China's urbanization (3)

Email|Print|Comments       twitter     facebook     Sina Microblog     reddit    

SEEKING HELPING HANDS

According to a Ministry of Civil Affairs report, China provided about 2.77 million times of aids to urban homeless and beggars in 2012. But experts said many homeless were still beyond the reach of official aid.

Zhou and many other homeless said they have never been approached by the city's homeless shelters, and some remain skeptical about the facilities.

"Perhaps the government can't take all the people like me into care because there are so many. Besides, the facility can't offer medical treatment, so it's pointless for me to go there," Zhou said.

Wang Changlun, director of the administrative authority of the city's homeless shelters, said Beijing has established institutions in every district and county to provide board and lodging for the homeless.

However, the homeless can only receive aid for up to ten days and will be persuaded to leave the city and return to their hometowns, Wang said, citing a State Council guideline on aid for urban homeless and beggars.

"There are indeed some homeless who resent our aid. They make a living by begging and don't want to be sent back to their rural homes," Wang said.

But despite the lack of access to sustainable government aid, the homeless at the station said they nevertheless have been supported by the city's many "kind-hearted people."

Some strangers routinely visit the station's square to deliver food to the homeless, and sympathetic local business owners give them goods and services free of charge, according to Zhou and Yan.

As Xinhua reporters followed Xiaoxiao as the boy searched for bottles, a man on a scooter tucked over a dozen yuan into his hand and left without a word.

"I know him. He often gives us money, but we don't know his name," Xiaoxiao said.

Liu Ming, a laid-off taxi driver, routinely sends food to Lei Kuidian, a 92-year-old veteran soldier who begs outside the railway station.

The old man refused to make any criticism against the government. He said he was satisfied with his current life, but cried when a man robbed him of his coin pot last year. A young stall owner chased half a block to retrieve the pot for him.

"It's hard for me not to help when I see his hardship, but what folks like me can do is really of little help," Liu said.

(All homeless mentioned in the story have used pseudonyms) (Ji Shaoting and Dingjing also contributed to the story)

We Recommend

• Communication ship Yuri Ivanov launched in Russia
• 11 countries' warships arrive at Jervis Bay for security exercise
• 118.28-carat diamond to be auctioned in HK
• 4 dead, 58 missing after Typhoon Wutip
• Portrait of an amateur Waltz dancer
• Travel with photographer- Gansu province
• Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo visits Tihar Jail in New Delhi
• Gelato World Tour set to hit Australia
• Alpacas charm visitors at America's National Alpaca Farm Days