URBAN POVERTY

As neighbourhoods are getting gentrified and communities facing the impacts of globalization, there are often many that have been marginalized and impacted by urban poverty. From Canada to Hong Kong, neighbourhoods are rapidly changing, leaving many people behind and homeless. In Hong Kong, there are currently more than 1,000 registered street sleepers. But these figures do not present the full picture of unregistered homeless, as there are more and more employed street sleepers due to rising rents. It is hard to offer a generalization to why someone becomes homeless. Each person is unique and has their own story and difficult past. There may be some facing addiction issues or have ongoing mental health problems or just facing the high cost of living in an expensive city.

Thankfully, there are many organizations from Chung King Ministries in Hong Kong to The Dale in Canada that offer holistic programs for the homeless, home-cooked meals, and a loving friendship to those often forgotten in society. These products support such charities that focus on helping those marginalized by urban poverty.