Japan vs. US Homelessness: What Japan Does Differently to Reduce Its Homeless Population
Channel: Vulnerable People and Places
Date: 2023-03-25

Japan has one of the lowest homeless populations in the world, while in the United States, over half a million people are experiencing homelessness. Around 5,000 are experiencing some form of homelessness in Portland, Oregon alone. So what is Japan doing differently? A 2022 article lists three characteristics by which Japan drastically reduced its unsheltered population in the past 20 years. Find out how "Generality," "Comprehensiveness," and "Expeditiousness" have helped Japan address homelessness. Public assistance is fractured and exclusionary in the states, making it challenging for unsheltered people to receive all the necessary services to get back into stable housing. But what can be done if the government does not render sufficient aid? The answer may lie within local communities. Join the fight against homelessness by donating or volunteering at your local non-profit. A little can go a long way, especially when everyone does their part to create the change they wish to see.