10-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Once a lottery winner with a six-million-baht prize, Uan, whose last name remains undisclosed, now finds herself homeless on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok. The 53-year-old woman, formerly a taxi driver, fell on hard times when her money ran out due to the rising cost of living, including skyrocketing petrol prices. Her income was insufficient to cover the daily taxi rental and home rent.
Fortunately, Uan’s luck seemed to turn around when she won the lottery and used the winnings to repurchase her previous house. To ensure the property remained in her possession, she registered it under her grandmother’s name. However, this decision would prove to have dire consequences.
Uan’s situation took a turn for the worse when her grandmother fell seriously ill, battling various diseases, including cancer. The money that remained after purchasing the house was quickly depleted, spent on mounting medical bills.
Tragically, Uan’s grandmother passed away, and her brother, who had been entrusted with the rights to the house, made the decision to sell it. Consequently, Uan lost her home and found herself living on the streets.
For the past three months, Uan has been residing on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a renowned area in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district known for its high concentration of homeless individuals. Her story is just one among many in this community, prompting the Bangkok Post to investigate the reasons behind their homelessness and their reaction to a forthcoming ban on sleeping in the area.
The Phra Nakhon District Office recently declared that, starting in September, sleeping on Ratchadamnoen Avenue would no longer be permitted. In response to this announcement, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation released data showing that in 2023, there were a total of 2,499 homeless people in Thailand, with 1,217 of them residing in Bangkok. Phra Nakhon district alone accounted for 500-600 individuals.
To enforce the ban and prevent littering by hoarders, authorities plan to erect fences along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Supporters of the measure argue that it aims to enhance the city’s aesthetics and ensure pedestrian and local safety. However, critics fear that this regulation will merely displace the homeless population from one area to another, viewing it as a superficial solution.
One homeless resident, 52-year-old Tip Sakda, revealed that he has spent the last six years on the streets in Phra Nakhon district’s Sake Alley on Assadang Road. He explained that conflicts with his family had driven him away from home permanently. Social workers informed him about the upcoming fences and suggested he find a new place to stay. However, Tip admitted that he was not yet prepared to take that step.
Expressing his concerns, Tip called upon public agencies to provide homeless individuals with proper shelter and job opportunities. Many of them suffer from chronic illnesses without access to healthcare, and he highlighted that in the past, some had even died due to lack of treatment.
Pai Sontiwong, a 44-year-old man who lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic, also found himself without a stable income to afford housing. As a result, he was forced to live on the streets, often wandering around Sanam Luang or Rattanakosin Hotel. Pai relied on food donations from philanthropic organizations and individuals who assist the homeless. When asked about the fence plan for Ratchadamnoen Avenue, he expressed his difficulties with the regulation and his unpreparedness to relocate.
Pai emphasized the need for agencies to provide more comprehensive support to the homeless population. While the Mirror Foundation offers a program that connects homeless individuals with job opportunities and affordable apartments, Pai argued that its scope remains limited compared to the number of homeless individuals in Phra Nakhon district.
In response to the crisis, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its network have established two drop-in stations in Sake Alley and beneath the Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge, on the Phra Nakhon district side. These stations house officials from various government departments and charitable foundations, offering assistance in healthcare, welfare for the elderly and disabled, laundry services, bathrooms, employment opportunities, and apartments.
Reports indicate that the BMA is also considering the revival of emergency shelters for the homeless in a building near Chaloem Wan Chat Bridge in Phra Nakhon district. This joint initiative between the BMA and the Mirror Foundation aims to provide training, allowances, and job opportunities to homeless individuals, breaking the cycle of homelessness. Moreover, these emergency shelters would serve as safeguards, protecting the homeless from falling victim to scams involving mule accounts, a criminal act punishable by imprisonment.
According to Sittipon Chuprajong from the Mirror Foundation, certain groups extort money from homeless individuals and hire them to open bank or mule accounts for 500 baht. Consequently, many homeless people have been arrested and incarcerated. These groups tend to frequent RHomelessness Crisis Hits Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok
Ratchadamnoen Avenue, located in the heart of Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district, has become a hotspot for homelessness. The avenue, once home to Uan, a lottery winner who ended up on the streets, now accommodates a growing number of individuals without a place to call home. Uan’s story is just one of many, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by those living on the streets.
Uan, a 53-year-old former taxi driver, found herself homeless after her lottery winnings ran out. Struggling to make ends meet due to the rising cost of living, including high petrol prices, Uan’s income was insufficient to cover her daily taxi rental and home rent. Winning the lottery seemed like a stroke of luck, allowing her to repurchase her former house. However, complications arose when she registered the property under her grandmother’s name. When her grandmother fell ill, the money meant to sustain them both was depleted, leaving Uan in a precarious situation. Following her grandmother’s passing, Uan’s brother decided to sell the house, leaving her with no place to go but the streets.
Living on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, known for its concentration of homeless individuals, Uan shared her experience of being homeless for the past three months. Her situation is not unique, as many others find themselves in similar circumstances. The Bangkok Post spoke to several homeless people in the area to understand the reasons behind their homelessness and their thoughts on an upcoming ban on sleeping in the area.
The Phra Nakhon District Office recently announced that sleeping on Ratchadamnoen Avenue would be prohibited starting in September. This decision comes as part of an effort to improve the city’s appearance and ensure the safety of pedestrians and locals. However, critics argue that this ban merely displaces the homeless population from one area to another, without providing real solutions to their predicament.
According to data from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, there were 2,499 homeless people in Thailand in 2023, with 1,217 of them residing in Bangkok. Phra Nakhon district alone accounted for 500-600 homeless individuals. In response to the ban, fences will be erected along Ratchadamnoen Avenue to prevent homeless people from sleeping on the road and to discourage littering by hoarders.
One homeless resident, Tip Sakda, shared his story of living on the streets of Phra Nakhon district for the past six years. Tip explained that conflicts with his family led to his decision to leave home permanently. Social workers informed him about the upcoming fences and advised him to find a new place to stay. However, Tip expressed his unpreparedness to relocate.
Tip and others in similar situations call upon public agencies to provide homeless individuals with proper shelter and job opportunities. Many homeless people suffer from chronic illnesses without access to healthcare, and in some cases, the lack of treatment has led to tragic outcomes. They believe that more comprehensive support is needed to address the root causes of homelessness.
Pai Sontiwong, another individual affected by homelessness, lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic and could no longer afford housing. Pai relies on food donations and assistance from philanthropic organizations and individuals. Like Tip, he expressed concerns about the upcoming ban and the difficulties it poses for homeless individuals. Pai emphasized the need for agencies to offer more substantial support, as the existing programs do not adequately address the scale of the issue in Phra Nakhon district.
In response to the homelessness crisis, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its network have established two drop-in stations in Sake Alley and beneath the Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge. These stations provide various services, including healthcare assistance, welfare support for the elderly and disabled, laundry facilities, bathrooms, employment opportunities, and access to apartments.
Additionally, the BMA is exploring the possibility of setting up emergency shelters for the homeless near Chaloem Wan Chat Bridge in Phra Nakhon district. This collaborative effort between the BMA and the Mirror Foundation aims to provide training, allowances, and job opportunities to homeless individuals, breaking the cycle of homelessness. The emergency shelters would also protect the homeless from scams involving mule accounts, which often lead to arrests and imprisonment.
Addressing the underlying causes of homelessness is crucial. Sittipon Chuprajong from the Mirror Foundation explained that many homeless individuals find themselves in their predicament due to job loss and conflicts within their families. They often feel like burdens and are unable to return to the workforce due to age-related challenges. The BMA, the Mirror Foundation, and their network are striving to offer job opportunities, affordable housing, and access to state welfare in order to combat homelessness effectively.
