Turning to a shelter when you have nowhere else to go – they provide food, lodging, and even a ticket home
Grade AMedium benefitMoneyFreeLittle timeSome willpower
Shelters cover meals and lodging, send you to a hospital if you fall ill, help you contact family, and issue a ticket home if you cannot afford one. Stays generally do not exceed 10 days. Coming and leaving are voluntary — this is not detention, and no cash is handed out. Tickets are issued for the hukou place or the place of residence, so decide where you want to go before you arrive.
- Cost
- There is no cost. You can go to your local civil affairs bureau or shelter on your own, or ask police or civil affairs officials to take you there. Upon arrival, you must truthfully provide your name and list any personal belongings. The hard part is simply admitting that you have no money and nowhere to stay.
- Benefit
- Shelters supply food and lodging that meet basic hygiene standards. Should you suffer a medical emergency while there, they arrange prompt hospital treatment. They also assist in reaching out to relatives or employers. For those unable to pay for travel back to their registered home or current residence, a free transport voucher – essentially a train or bus ticket – is provided. “Household registration” refers to your hometown, while “current residence” is wherever you currently live. Generally, stays are capped at 10 days; extensions are granted if family members are on the way, medical care is needed, or other arrangements must be made. Police and other government officials encountering homeless individuals in the course of their duties must inform them of this assistance option. Special care is given to disabled persons, minors, the elderly, and anyone with mobility issues – they are guided and escorted to shelters (nationwide, since 2003).
- Notes
- Entry and departure are entirely voluntary; this is not a detention facility. Basic food and lodging are provided, but no cash is given. Transport vouchers are issued based on household registration or current residence – be sure to decide where you wish to go before seeking help. For shelter arrangements at night or during winter, see Section 21 (when there truly is nowhere else to sleep).
Sources · 2
- 国务院 (2003). 城市生活无着的流浪乞讨人员救助管理办法（国务院令第 381 号，第五、六、七条）. gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62246.htm
- 民政部 (2003). 城市生活无着的流浪乞讨人员救助管理办法实施细则（民政部令第 24 号，第十一、十二条）. gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62510.htm