Housing Poor – The Young People in Poverty (The Big Issue Japan)
Yuko IjimaOctober 19, 2009
In Japan there are three steps to become “Housing Poor”. The first step is to live in company house. The second is to stay at Internet cafeteria and fast-food restaurant. And the third step is to live on street or in a park. It is easy for people to fall from first step into next step, thus, it is easy for us to become homeless. The Big Issue Japan explore the factors behind the rise of a new type of homelessness. (409 words, English, picture)
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Housing Poor –The Young People in Poverty
“I lost my temporary job when I was discharged; I was forced out of the company house and left with nowhere to go.” This is an all too common story told to the staff of “Moyai”, an NGO which helps people live their own lives and get back on track.
“The full-time workers and self-employed business owners also have been affected by the rise in homeless among former professionals,” says Tsuyoshi Inaba, representative of Moyai. “These individuals lose unemployment insurance and savings, then they can not pay their rent and so they lose their homes. The majority are young professions, roughly 20 or 30 years old.”
This new type of homelessness has been growing since 2004. Its victims, when they can scrape enough money together, seek refuge at Internet Cafes.
”When they have some money, they stay at Internet Cafeteria,” explains Inaba. “However, if they have only a little money they stay at fast-food restaurants. If they find a short-term job and earn some money they can then stay at friend’s house. Then, when they run out of cash they have no choice but to turn to the dangerous streets.
According to Mr. Inaba, when people find themselves in such a situation it is easy for their right of residence to be violated. This is known as Housing Poor. “There are three steps to be Housing Poor. The first step is to live in company house. The second is to stay at Internet cafeteria and fast-food restaurant. And the third step is to live on street or in a park. It is easy for people to fall from first step into next step, thus, it is easy for us to become homeless.”
Young people can’t get company welfare such as housing allowance and social insurance because of the laws surrounding temporary workers. They are also paid a very low salary, that’s why they can not pay for their rent. It is possible that their parents are poor or violent. If young people want to ask their parents to help them, it must be difficult.
It is necessary to improve the states public housing policy if the situation is to change. “Of course we need to construct public housing for young people,” concludes Mr. Inaba. It is also important to give housing at a low cost and to provide young people with a housing allowance which will help these unfortunate individuals to live their own lives.”
By Staff writer
Reprinted from Big Issue Japan
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Tsuyoshi Inaba, representative of Moyai (Hideaki Takamatsu)
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