INTRODUCTION

Homelessness issue is a prevalent concern to any part of a country. Homeless can be seen
everywhere in the public spaces such as gas stations, restaurants, supermarket, mall walkaway,
mosque and churches. Homelessness itself can be defined in many ways, but it is generally
understood as a state of not having shelter or a regular private place for sleeping, washing and
otherwise conducting one’s day-to-day life. The United States Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) defined homelessness as an individual who lacks housing (without regard to
whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary
residence during the night in a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary living
accommodation, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing [Section 330 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C, 254b)].

Nowadays, 1.6 billion people estimated to live in less adequate shelter across the globe
where 7% that is 100 million people worldwide are homeless [Habitat for Community, 2015].
For Malaysia, 1408 homeless people reported particularly in Kuala Lumpur according to
Malaysia’s Social Welfare Department. The statistic can be summarized as the numbers of
homeless people over the years are increasing. The term of “developed country” is a sovereign
state that has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to
other less industrialized nations. A developed country is correspond to the rise in homelessness
numbers as the complexity living in more civilized state can be a factor for a person to be
homeless.

It has been reported that homelessness can affect the image of a developing country
mainly on its social and economic structure. This paper will cover the causes and the effects of
homelessness to some developing country such as Malaysia. The analysis of the issue is acquired
through observation of homeless people living in Jalan Bukit Bintang streets in Kuala Lumpur
(Appendix A-1).
THE CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS

One of the most frequent causes of homelessness is the urban complexity and the rising
of living cost. Urban area can be classified as one region surrounding a city and majority of the
community in the urban area have non-agricultural jobs. In a broader context, urban area refers
to a well-developed region of a country which means there is a density of human structures such
as commercial buildings, houses, roads and railways.

The reality is not all of the inhabitants in urban area are living under a shelter with
desired daily needs. Some of the inhabitants encounter a lack of inadequate income, access to
affordable housing and health support or the experience of discrimination based on their wages.
Correspond to the development of urban area, there is a shift in economy nationally or locally
that can create a challenge for any level of institutions and citizens. The shifts most commonly
cause the living cost in urban area, therefore, some of the unfortunate had the decision to be
homeless or forced towards homelessness.

Homelessness poverty are inextricably linked [National Coalition for the Homeless,
2009], where it can contribute to the issue of shortage of housing that is affordable to a low and
middle-income individuals that is safe and stable. Millions of Canadians families and individual
living in “core need” where they’re paying 50% of their income on housing. [The State of
Homelessness in Canada, 2013]. It is evidence that shows many people who are employed do not
make enough compensation to pay arrears, not including for foods, healthcare and so on.
THE EFFECT OF HOMELESSNESS TOWARDS DEVELOPING COUNTRY

Homelessness is certainly can cause a significant effect on economic growth or social

development of a country and it is compelling nonetheless. Homelessness issue slows down the
progress of a developing country towards a better administration and excellent quality of
citizens. As in Malaysia, the government aiming to eradicate poverty corresponds to the content
in “Wawasan 2020”. This progress can reach a plateau when homelessness issue still emerging
over the years without any improvement to reduce the number of people accommodates the
streets. Besides, chronic poverty issue indicates a weak government structure and clogs the
growth of a nation in many aspects.

Furthermore, international investment will be declining and investor will be hesitating in

one’s country regarding the issue [Homeless Link, 2011]. This hesitation of the investor cuts
down the potential of a country to embrace a beneficial advancement to encourage development
for the nation. As a consequence, neighboring country or potential development tools will lose
interest in one’s country in relation of the homeless issue and gives a reflection of unstable
government and weak economic structure [How Government Policy Hurts the Homeless, Crisis
Magazine, 2012].
RECOMMENDATION

As a society, there are several actions that we can apply in the venture of reducing the
number of homeless people in the developing country. Malaysia’s Welfare Department can
consider establishing more of “Homeless Temporary Home” to provide private spaces to the
homeless. For example, “Rumah Tumpangan Gelandangan” in Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur is a
transit house for the homeless people to find a shelter and foods while receiving assistance from
the Welfare to find a potential employment to help them to escape from the homelessness. This
cannot be achieved without a collaboration of government and non-government (NGO) sectors to
provide daily needs such as foods and necessary welfare to the homeless people in the transit
house.