Hong Kong, China – In an underpass within the central Hong Kong district of Comfortable Valley, Michael sits at a desk, sorting leftover meals from takeaway containers he finds in garbage bins.

The scent of rotting meals fills the air as he opens every container. No matter he considers fit for human consumption can be his subsequent meal.

Behind him are all of the possessions he owns: a mattress, a suitcase, and an workplace desk and chair. These are issues different individuals threw away — gadgets that at the moment are valuable to him.

He has lived within the pedestrian tunnel for 4 years.

“There are numerous mosquitoes and bedbugs. You may see there are such a lot of. And I’m getting fungal infections,” Michael, who requested to be recognized by a pseudonym, advised Al Jazeera.

“I used to dwell on the opposite aspect of Hong Kong however I got here right here, after my belongings had been taken.”

In Tai Kok Tsui, ImpactHK, a charity which helps individuals experiencing homelessness, welcomes lots of of individuals into certainly one of its group centres, providing them recent garments, scorching meals, and an opportunity to attach with social employees.

“Each evening on the streets is an emergency. It is a very rich metropolis — however one in 5 at this second are experiencing meals insecurity,” ImpactHK founder Jeffrey Rotmeyer advised Al Jazeera.

“These are scary occasions. We’ve seen the proportion of females on the road double [since the pandemic], and we’ve seen a few 25 % enhance general. And we’re seeing homeless communities pop up in new areas.”

A report by Oxfam in 2022 discovered the pandemic worsened Hong Kong’s wealth hole, with the richest residents making nearly 50 occasions as a lot because the poorest within the first quarter of 2022.

Rotmeyer’s organisation has helped nearly 500 individuals off the streets and into shelters — however he says the dimensions of the homelessness downside within the metropolis goes past what nongovernmental organisations can do.

“Over 90 % of those individuals don’t have any emergency contact, they don’t have any pal or member of the family of their life. That isolation performs an enormous position of their step in the direction of changing into homeless, so after we search for an answer, we all know {that a} room is just not sufficient,” Rotmeyer stated.

“Many of those people grew up not figuring out a mom or father. We see individuals outdoors on the road with numerous psychological well being points — schizophrenia, psychosis, despair, and even Alzheimer’s. Our healthcare system is ill-equipped to cope with this.”

Based on the Social Welfare Division, there have been greater than 1,500 individuals registered as “avenue sleepers” from 2021-22.

In an announcement, the Social Welfare Division advised Al Jazeera that it has enhanced its companies for individuals experiencing homelessness since 2021-22 and can “proceed to maintain in view the welfare service wants of avenue sleepers”.

“Whether or not avenue sleepers will settle for the companies or referrals is determined by their willingness and motivation for receiving companies. The social employees … will render vital help to avenue sleepers if they’re prepared to just accept the companies,” the assertion stated.

The division stated individuals experiencing homelessness have numerous causes for sleeping on the road, together with being unable to search out reasonably priced housing because of unemployment, having household issues, being not too long ago discharged from jail or drug habit therapy centres, or different private causes.

‘I can be very completely happy if I can assist them’

Watching with alarm because the variety of homeless in Hong Kong grows is 65-year-old Chu Kin Lik, who goes by the nickname Ah Lik.

He is aware of first hand what it’s wish to attempt to sleep outdoors throughout Hong Kong’s chilly winter nights and scorching summer time days.

He spent most of his grownup life on the streets, together with greater than 10 years residing in an underpass.

“I started my homelessness once I was an adolescent, and I spent my youth in jail, after which the pedestrian tunnel,” he stated.

“I all the time had my issues stolen, and there have been additionally fights. I met some individuals who would deal with me to dinner, if I participated in a combat.”

Three years in the past, he met the ImpactHK group whereas they had been distributing social support. He joined their group as a full-time assistant shortly afterwards.

“I grew to become extra cheerful after serving to different individuals experiencing homelessness. I met many new individuals. Now I’ve a spot to dwell, I’ve sufficient meals and a job. I even have a canine, who I deal with like my daughter. I’m completely happy and happy,” he stated.

“I can be very completely happy if I can assist extra individuals. I’m completely happy if they’re completely happy.”