Hong Kong’s growing homeless community is feeling the pains of the pandemic

One of the richest cities in Asia, Hong Kong is in the midst of an economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed hundreds from their homes and taken away vital economic lifelines for the more than 1,500 already sleeping on the city’s streets, shelters and temporary housing. A recent unofficial census by local non-governmental organisations found that over 500 people have become homeless since the start of the pandemic. Volunteers working for outreach organisations such as ImpactHK have seen a rise in demand for food and other necessities, saying that the pandemic has hurt the city’s neediest in ways big and small.