According to the official government records, there are more than 1,500 street sleepers in Hong Kong, and each of them has a story of falling.
Uncle Wen, a "homeless person" in Yau Tsim Mong District who is nearly 80 years old, was a multi-millionaire with a house 14 years ago, but the Asian financial crisis in 2008 caused him to lose nearly 8 million yuan in investment, and he was in debt He thought he could earn back at the gaming table, but ended up losing another 6 million yuan on the gambling boat. The two houses worth more than 2 million yuan were mortgaged to pay off the debts, and he became addicted to drugs.
In recent years, Uncle Wen has also had a positive side, that is, as a volunteer, he helps other homeless people as a homeless parent.
In the winter, it suddenly turns cold from time to time. Uncle Wen would rather find a place to escape the cold wind and rain than enter the cold shelter, because he saw that the traffic flow in the cold shelter is complicated, and he is worried about being stolen. He has also seen people taking drugs inside. "No matter how cold it is in the future, I will never go to the cold shelter again."
On the evening of last Tuesday (20th), the Association of Community Organizations, together with 15 volunteers, distributed sleeping bags and sugar water to a group of homeless people in Tongzhou Street Park, Sham Shui Po. Uncle Wen, an 80-year-old street sleeper, was one of them. Volunteer workers are the homeless helping the homeless.
Pension investment hits the financial turmoil, loses everything, sinks into gambling boat and loses everything
Uncle Wen, who is nearly eighty years old, became a homeless person more than ten years ago.
He just retired from the management position of China-Hong Kong Transportation Company in 2004 and received a generous pension. He bought a lot of different insurance and fund portfolios.
As everyone knows, a sudden financial turmoil in 2008 made him lose everything. In addition to losing nearly US$1 million (approximately HK$7.8 million), he was also in debt.
Deeply hit, he embarked on a road of no return.
Gambling day and night on the gambling boats on the high seas facing Macau, he lost another nearly 6 million Hong Kong dollars. In the end, even the two houses worth more than 2 million Hong Kong dollars that he finally bought were used as mortgages to pay off debts.
At that time, I couldn't see it, and it was useless to persuade me. I gambled so much that my relatives didn't recognize me.
Uncle Wen, the homeless
Wife and son break up contact and sleep on the street, denounced as "social parasite"
Due to his gambling addiction, Uncle Wen's wife left him with their three children, and has not contacted him so far, and he will eventually "lose everything" and live on the street.
Uncle Wen admitted that he was discriminated against at the beginning of his homeless life, calling him a "social parasite".
However, he said that he has been used to sleeping on the street for many years, and later fell in love with this kind of life of no fixed place and freedom.
On weekdays, I mostly wander around Yau Tsim Mong and other places, such as Taiping Road and the cultural center.
When asked how to find a place due to the cold weather recently, he said, "We must find places that are sheltered from wind and water." For example, at the corners of buildings or stairs, they usually stay in indoor places such as stadiums and gymnasiums.
Uncle Wen admitted that he was discriminated against when he lived in the rough at the beginning, but he got used to it over the years, and later fell in love with this kind of life without a fixed place and freedom.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Refers to the complex flow of products in the cold shelter, and some people vowed not to enter after taking drugs
When asked if he had ever stayed in a cold shelter because of the cold weather, Uncle Wen said that he would "absolutely not go to a cold shelter" because the experience he had tried to stay in was too bad.
He thinks that the environment of the cold shelter is complicated, and he is worried that someone will steal his things if he stays overnight, which makes him lose even his only possessions. In addition, he found that someone took drugs in the cold shelter, so he made up his mind not to enter the cold shelter again.
No matter how cold it is in the future, I will never go to the cold shelter again.
Uncle Wen, the homeless
Uncle Wen said that the quality of sleep during the stay in the center was not good, and the supplies provided were quite poor. "There was only a thin mattress and blanket, not even pillows." Uncle Wen added that although staying in the cold shelter center is still considered a good thing. Covering your head is indeed better than the environment on the street.
"However, wandering on the street can lead to a more free and comfortable life, with more space for activities."
The epidemic worsens the situation to avoid infecting Ning Shao's friends
After the epidemic, the homeless people already have nowhere to go, and it is even more difficult to take into account the fight against the epidemic in their lives.
Uncle Wen is very old, and he is worried that if he is diagnosed unfortunately, it will cause a lot of trouble.
Therefore, since the outbreak, he has worn a mask even when sleeping, washed his hands frequently, stayed away from crowds, and only dared to lie in places with little traffic. Fortunately, he has not yet been infected.
Uncle Wen said that because of this, he has lost friends and less communication with others. He only has the radio by his side, and it is also the only "middleman" for him to contact the outside world.
Asked about his Christmas wish this year, Uncle Wen said, "I hope to be healthy and live a safe life." (Photo by Lu Yiming)
Criticized "the government is unreliable" once asked Law Chi-kwong why he owed the homeless policy
During his 14 years of homelessness, Uncle Wen never received basic living allowances such as comprehensive relief. , to visit the homeless at Tung Chau Street Park in Sham Shui Po.
At that time, Uncle Wen took a policy address and asked Law Chi-kwong, "Did the policy address mention any policies related to the homeless?" He remembered that Law Chi-kwong responded "Yes", and there was no further text.
He was quite angry, knowing that the government was always unreliable.
Waiting for a free lunch box every day and starving if you can’t get it
In order not to gamble anymore, he tried his best not to have any extra money, and only wanted food and clothing in his life. He even joked that "no money is light."
When asked how to solve daily problems, Uncle Wen said that he would wait in line to distribute free lunch boxes every day, but he also tried to go hungry because the lunch boxes are limited in supply.
In addition, in order to fill up the time and not give himself room for wild thoughts, he also joined the volunteer group of the Association of Community Organizations, visiting homeless people in Sham Shui Po from time to time and distributing supplies.
Talking about his Christmas wish for this year, he said: "I wish you good health and a safe life."
The former homeless Mr. Situ, who was assigned to go upstairs to the public housing earlier, continued to help other homeless people because of his own experience of sleeping on the streets.
(Photo by Lu Yiming)
Being a "homeless" person still cares about the lives of the homeless
Mr. Situ, 59 years old this year, was originally engaged in welding work. He suffered from Gibber's syndrome three years ago. His hands were numb and weak, and he suddenly lost his financial ability.
After losing his job, he has been living on the streets, relying on more than 3,000 yuan of disability CSSA allowance to survive.
Fortunately, he managed to "go upstairs" this year and moved into a public housing unit in Sham Shui Po, breaking away from the ranks of the homeless.
Mr. Szeto said that this winter is very different from the past. He described it as the first time in many years to live a comfortable winter. , to celebrate being a family man.
Although he successfully broke away from the ranks of the homeless, Mr. Situ did not reduce his concern for the homeless because of his own experience of sleeping on the streets.
He has actively participated in the volunteer activities of the Hong Kong Association for Community Organizations for many years. He said that because he has been homeless, he knows that most homeless people do not have enough cold clothing in winter. He hopes that the activity can provide more warm clothing for the homeless. Let them live a warm and full winter.
Temporary shelter from the cold and other cold warnings are in effect to open Wu Weidong: How do the homeless know?
Wu Weidong, director-general of the Social Association, pointed out that the cold refuge center will not open until the Observatory issues a cold weather warning. Most homeless people have difficulty obtaining relevant information, and may not be able to know the opening time of the center in time.
He pointed out that the minimum temperature in some winter days is only a little higher than the regulations, and the weather is still quite cold, but the cold shelter is still closed. Wu Weidong criticized the implementation as too rigid; Market demands have also deterred the homeless.
There are no bathing facilities or lockers in the cold refuge center. Many homeless people are afraid of losing their personal belongings and are unwilling to move in. Moreover, the venue has to be cleared the next morning, and they will be evicted at seven or eight o'clock.
Wu Weidong, Director-General of the Social Association
The homeless were sent to the "moon surface" old public housing units to be forced to live in the kitchen. After nearly a month, the epidemic returned to Hong Kong. Lost property failed to apply for reexamination and compensation of $101.1 with interest. One more person passed away. : I am not a competent mother
