Gov't Reaches Out to NGOs to Help Handle Its Problem with Homeless

(Beijing) – Drivers roll up car windows as an autumn wind chills a traffic-clogged overpass in western Beijing's Liuliqiao area. And under the concrete overpass, homeless people are gathering for a chilly night's rest after wandering city streets.

Among the homeless is a 52-year-old man surnamed Chen. He sits between two suitcases brought from his hometown in Hebei, the northern province next to Beijing, about a year ago. His hair is filthy and tangled, his hands pockmarked with vitiligo. The suitcases contain everything Chen owns.