This article by Zhou Wenting relayed homelessness as a social problem that continually drives rural Chinese families from poor villages into the capital city of Beijing to earn wages for themselves. Homelessness is indeed a global problem for China as it is for other countries in that it causes family hardship on many fronts- economically, socially, and politically. Wenting stated that homelessness in Beijing was in need of something more than a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. The answer was in determining what the root causes are and doing something about them.
In his research, he found that homeless population do not take advantage of the nation’s 1,376 homeless shelters and countless other support systems that were set out for them by the government. In his interviews with various homeless people, he found that they moved to the capital on the thought that there is much wealth and power there, unlike the rural communities where they found nothing but poverty. They merely wanted a chance to partake of what is there and were willing to let go of their pride in pursuit of this chance.
In talking with officials and experts, the root causes he found were the growing gap between wealth, poor living conditions in the rural areas and the poor social security system with detailed examples of actual people whom are experiencing these conditions. He also found insufficient basic transportation, courses that would teach much needed skills and knowledge, insurance and pensions.
Overall, the article proved to be informative from the detailed interviews that he did. He cared enough to research further and surmised that China’s annual revenue of 6.85 trillion yuan was more than enough to offer pensions to it’s elderly who are above the age of 60. And to further suggest vital reforms to increasing farmers’ incomes, narrowing the urban divide, and leaving benefits to people not the governments.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2010-12/22/content_11739016.htm
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