New landscape of homelessness in Japan: The role of NPOs and landscape of the problem

In Japan, the term “homeless” applies solely to people who are forced to sleep on the street. Efforts to address the problem have mainly been directed at putting homeless people to work to make them self-supporting. However, in recent years the number of people suffering from various kinds of housing insecurity has increased steeply, and public concern has heightened and broadened the examination of ensuing housing problems. This article examines the circumstances of different types of housing-insecure persons, based on surveys of “rough sleepers” and those who spend the night in internet cafes, and also describes certain types of housing used by laborers in unstable fields, factors which have until now concealed the extent of the homelessness problem. Next, the author introduces the new strategy of housing assistance that is being promoted by the public sector and non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the face of the diversifying nature of homelessness. The article then attempts to elucidate the role that NPOs play in the new process.

Research highlights► Provides a comprehensive discussion of homelessness and policy responses to it in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Japan. ► Locates this discussion within the wider context of social exclusion and housing insecurity; ► Highlights the relevance of adopting broader definitions and preventative strategies and policies.