The number of homeless westerners living on the streets of Thailand is
increasing with many choosing to stay in the country despite their
situation, a Thai charity says.
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The number of
homeless westerners in Thailand grew in 2013, a Thai non-profit
organization said, putting the current figure at around 200.
The
Issarachon Foundation was founded in 1996 and specializes in improving
the quality of life of homeless residents in Thailand including
providing educational services and healthcare needs.
It reported
earlier in September that many homeless westerners separated from their
Thai wives and were kicked out of their own homes.
Since their property was bought in their Thai wives' names, they cannot legally fight to stay.
In other cases, homeless foreigners suffer from mental illnesses or from drug or alcohol abuse, said the foundation.
Shelter
volunteers from Baan Mitmaithree of Pattaya, located in the popular
beach town known for its sex industry, walked the streets on Tuesday
looking for anyone needing assistance.
[Stephen Francis Quinn, 59-Year Old Citizen from the United Kingdom]:
"I
need to go home for health, I know that. I need to go home for health. I
like it here because I've got many friends who help me now. Many
friends. I'm not sure what I want anymore."
Quinn has been living on the streets of Pattaya for over two years.
The fee for a foreigner overstaying their visa in Thailand is 16 dollars a day with a maximum penalty of 630 dollars.
Shelter volunteers say many cannot afford to pay.
The
law states that shelters cannot assist homeless people living in
Thailand illegally unless it is an emergency, under those conditions
they can be housed for 15 days.
[Rungnapha Noirakthong, Volunteer, Baan Mitmaithree Shelter, Pattaya]:
"Most
of the homeless foreigners overstay their visa, so they are here
illegally. And since they're illegal and if we help them, that means
we're breaking the law too. But for humanitarian reasons, we take care
of them as needed."
Many of the homeless survive by begging or asking friends for money.
One
North Carolina native, who has a brother living in New York City, says
his wife threw him out of home and he has no plans to return.
[Sylvester Ancram, Homeless]:
"It's
a lot less stress here, you know, and I'm more comfortable here than I
am at home. I don't have to worry about gunshots and all those crazy
stuff like this and I'm just comfortable here."
43-year old Theunis Jalte de Yong from the Netherlands, who also sleeps on the streets, has a similar story.
De Yong says he cannot go back to his native Holland because his Thai wife and children are in Thailand.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says over 22-million tourists visited Thailand in 2012, setting a new record.
Thailand
has a continuous increase of western retirees settling permanently in
the country because of its hot climate and low living costs.