Weekend Long Read: Helping China’s Homeless Find Their Way Home

The article explores the stark contrast between the bustling commercial heart of Changsha, particularly its Wuyi Commercial Circle, and the adjacent world of the city’s homeless population, known locally as “daliuzhe.” While tourists are attracted by the glittering storefronts and vibrant pedestrian malls, just a short distance away, makeshift shelters in partially demolished buildings provide refuge for those with no fixed abode. Here, a hidden community survives in the shadows, illustrating the sharp socio-economic divide present in urban China. [para. 1][para. 2]

Social worker Zhu Cong, the founder of the Diyi Social Rescue Center, plays a pivotal role in bridging these two worlds. Established in 2017, the Diyi shelter not only provides food and basic needs, but also strives to reunite the city’s wanderers with their families and reintegrate them into society. Zhu and her volunteers work tirelessly, often entering derelict buildings at night to make contact with the homeless, offering both practical assistance and a sense of dignity. [para. 3]

The story spotlights several individuals Zhu has aided. One is Feng Shengfu, formerly known only as “Little Kid.” For years, he lived on the streets, lacking any memory of his identity. Only recently, after Zhu took his DNA and matched him with missing person records, did he discover his true name and reunite with his family in Guangxi, after having gone missing at 15 years old. Now, Feng lives with his sister and is slowly rebuilding his life, an exceedingly rare case where true familial reconnection has provided acceptance and care. [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6][para. 7][para. 8][para. 9]

The Diyi shelter itself operates from two cramped street-level rooms, offering food, clothing, and a space for social interaction. Many homeless near the commercial center survive by collecting recyclable garbage, earning meager sums, and keeping pets for company and protection. The shelter describes Changsha’s homeless as clustering primarily around transportation hubs and commercial districts, drawn by the availability of food and earning opportunities. [para. 10][para. 11][para. 12]

Another frequent visitor is Yang Haibo, disabled by polio and abandoned by his family, who relies on his knowledge of the city—such as where to find free leftovers or which places offer overnight refuge. While articulate and self-sufficient, Yang’s yearning for home remains unmet due to family estrangement. [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16]

Others like Zhang Bing have no known family or legal identity, drifting the country for decades. Despite learning trades such as welding, lack of documentation keeps people like Zhang on the margins, making formal work and government aid inaccessible. Efforts by police and volunteers to identify their backgrounds are ongoing, often with little result. [para. 17][para. 18][para. 19][para. 20][para. 21]

The article recounts failed reunifications too, like that of Xie Xiaolong, unable to reintegrate with his family after years of incarceration and homelessness. Attempts to acquire legal documentation and find employment for him remain slow due to bureaucratic hurdles and family rejection. [para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25][para. 26][para. 27][para. 28]

Officially, Chinese government rescue centers provide only short-term, emergency assistance—usually no longer than 10 days—and the state encourages NGOs and individuals to supplement these efforts. Zhu views her center’s mission as “developmental aid,” focusing on restoring self-worth and practical skills, and organizing small work-based projects to aid reintegration. [para. 29][para. 30][para. 31]

Nonetheless, the social safety net remains fragile. The Diyi center’s success rate for permanent reintegration is just 10%. Funding is chronically short, relying on donations totaling only about 30,000 yuan annually. Despite repeat relapses and setbacks, Zhu persists, working with just student volunteers and former homeless people, still believing that even small victories justify her efforts. [para. 32][para. 33][para. 34][para. 35]