Homeless Population on a Decline in Tokyo

There are not so many homeless people in Tokyo as used to be for some while. A survey counted 807 homeless in August, 2015, the fewest in the summer ever since the survey started. Some 16 years ago there were as many as 5,800 homeless people in the 23 wards in Tokyo. What accounts for such a drastic decline in number?

The authorities credit administrative measures taken by way of providing services targeting these people; the net tweeters suspect a dragnet effect with the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 in mind. Whichever it is, there are not many of them around in Tokyo, that's for sure.

The Tokyo Metropolitan government conducts head-count surveys every January and August to map out homeless population nesting in the parks, river basins, railway stations, etc. The number peaked in August, 1999, with 5,798. The number declined yearly to 1,057 in August, 2013 and 914 in August, 2014.

The Health and Welfare Department accounts the decline in the number of homeless people for the Self-reliance Support Center and a series of measures to go with it.

The center was installed in November, 2000 to offer temporary lodgings, employment assistance, etc. There are five of them now in Ueno, Meguro and elsewhere. The lodgings are available for maximum six months.

The metropolitan government and ward offices patrol key areas and persuade homeless people to move to the lodgings at the centers. Each center accommodates 70-80 and is always packed.

Some tweeters blame government measures for "mercilessly wiping them out for the Olympics' sake"; others point out a grand exodus of the homeless from Tokyo to nearby prefectures.

The Health and Welfare Department denies such allegations and comments:

"It is just that government measures are bringing home good results. We see no point in driving them away temporarily for the Olympics".