無家可歸
露宿者問題是一個全球性的問題，衝擊着每個國家和社會，無情地剝削人的生活素質、基本尊嚴和爭取經濟自主的機會。政府、社會組織和個人必須共同努力，讓這個問題得到解決。根據過去的經驗，若非國際社會、地區、國家和社區公同關注，採取實際行動，露宿者問題並不會得到改善。聯合國在2005年估計全球有一億名露宿者，這數字到2015年時攀升至十六億，十年內增加了十五倍，惡化的程度令人震驚。
五十年前露宿者問題並不明顯，當時全球二十五億人口中，75%住在鄉郊地區，由於住屋問題遠離市區，不容易被人察覺。今天七十六億的世界人口中，五成半密集在城市，無家可歸便成為一個顯而易見的嚴重問題。
露宿者問題是由多方面的因素引致。首要因素是失業或就業不足，以致無法負擔房租。智障或有精神問題人士，由於缺乏適當的醫療護理和家人與朋友的支援，亦會流落街頭成為露宿者。不少人因為長期病患或受傷，失去工作收入，為了支付高昂醫療費用而債台高築，最後破產也淪為露宿者。很多離家出走的人亦成為露宿者，當中離開家庭的原因可能涉及性侵、家暴或精神虐待。
智利
智利境內目前有一萬二千名名露宿者，半數住在首都聖地牙哥。智利社會發展局於2011年發表的調查報告指出，77%的露宿者有工作，卻無法找到可負擔的住房。
智利是其中一個經濟發展最好的南美國家，然而聯合國專家指出，社會貧富懸殊的不平等現象和市場主導的房屋政策，導致人民按著社會階層被分隔。
智利缺乏社會福利，無家可歸只反映出國內整個貧困問題的部份景況。智利並沒有公立醫療服務，教育以私立學校為主。智利的最低月薪是十九萬三千披索(約四百美元)，根本無法支付生活所需。
國內半數的學生在私立學校就讀，平均學費是每月四百美元，僅低於最低工資。很多低收入家庭無法負擔子女教育，貧困情況無法得到改善。
近年頻繁的山火和地震令情況變得更差，這些天災令更多人失去家園，政府提供的援助十分有限，很多人往往最後白白空等一場。
為智利禱告
–陳德志傳道(中文翻譯)
親愛的天父：
我們來到祢的施恩寶座前為智利禱告，我們求祢的聖靈在人的心中動工，讓他們回應祢的愛。願祢的盼望和光明照遍每個破碎和漆黑的角落。求主繼續連絡和堅固祢的教會，裝備祢的子民，差遣他們去服事和關懷有需要的人。聖靈啊，請引領我們去接觸未及之民和活在邊緣的人，讓他們得著復和與救贖，榮耀祢的名。願萬膝向祢跪拜；願萬口宣稱耶穌是主！
如果你想瞭解更多關於城北在智利的和平福音工作，或有負擔參與這方面的服侍，請以電郵方式聯絡陳德志傳道。
Homelessness
Homelessness is a global pandemic that spans every society and country and continuous to derail people’s quality and decency of life and their potential to economic empowerment. Governments, social organizations and individuals must all jointly and severally tackle this problem to bring a lasting solution to it. It has been proven over time that homelessness will not improve by itself without concrete community, national, regional and global agenda to mitigate and militate it. In 2005, the United Nations estimated that there were 100 million homeless people worldwide. This number jumped to 1.6 billion people lacking adequate housing in 2015 representing 15 times increase over 10 years. The deterioration is simply staggering.
Homelessness was once considerably less visible half a century ago as 70% of the world’s population of 2.5 billion was spread out across rural areas. Housing problems, far removed from urban centers, were largely unnoticed. Today, 55% of the world’s population of 7.6 billion is concentrated in urban centers. Homelessness has become a more serious and noticeable issue.
Multiple factors contribute to homelessness. The most prominent one is people not being able to get affordable housing due to a lack of living wage caused by unemployment and underemployment. People with developmental disorders and mental illnesses often become homeless due to lack of a family and friend support structure and lack of treatment for their problems. Many people become homeless due to the fallout from a physical illness or injury. The exorbitant cost of healthcare and medical debt and discontinuation of employment income could lead to bankruptcy. Running away from abuse often results in homelessness. Many people become homeless due to sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.
Chile
There are currently around 12,000 homeless people in Chile, half in the capital city of Santiago. According to a study conducted by the Ministry for Social Development in 2011, 77% of Chile’s homeless population have jobs, yet struggle to afford accommodation.
Chile is one of South America’s most economically developed nations. Yet inequity and market driven approach to housing for vulnerable groups has contributed to the segregation of people in Chile based on socio-economic status, according to the UN expert.
Homelessness forms part of a wider poverty issue in a country which has little in the way of a welfare state. There is no national health service in Chile and its education system is largely privatised. Minimum wage in Chile is around 193,000 pesos (410 US dollars) a month. It is impossible to live on that salary.
Half of the country’s students attend schools costing parents on average 400 US dollars a month – just under the minimum wage. Consequently, many families on lower incomes struggle to cope and are pushed into poverty.
Forest fires and earthquake in recent years have made the situation worse. Homelessness is common following natural disasters. Those who face displacement after a natural disaster are given more assistance than those facing homelessness from other causes, but many times victims of natural disaster are left waiting for help that may never be given.
Praying for Chile
– Pastor Alex Chan
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before Your throne of grace to intercede for the nation of Chile. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the people there so that they may be receptive to Your love. May Your hope and light shine in areas of brokenness and darkness. Please continue to unite and strengthen your church. Equip and send your people to practically serve and care for the least of these. Holy Spirit, guide us to reach the unreached and marginalized. Let the restored and redeemed glorify Your Name. May every knee bow before You and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
If you are interested in knowing more about RHCCC’s PEACE program in Chile or would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Alex Chan.
無家可歸
露宿者問題是一個全球性的問題，衝擊着每個國家和社會，無情地剝削人的生活素質、基本尊嚴和爭取經濟自主的機會。政府、社會組織和個人必須共同努力，讓這個問題得到解決。根據過去的經驗，若非國際社會、地區、國家和社區公同關注，採取實際行動，露宿者問題並不會得到改善。聯合國在2005年估計全球有一億名露宿者，這數字到2015年時攀升至十六億，十年內增加了十五倍，惡化的程度令人震驚。
五十年前露宿者問題並不明顯，當時全球二十五億人口中，75%住在鄉郊地區，由於住屋問題遠離市區，不容易被人察覺。今天七十六億的世界人口中，五成半密集在城市，無家可歸便成為一個顯而易見的嚴重問題。
露宿者問題是由多方面的因素引致。首要因素是失業或就業不足，以致無法負擔房租。智障或有精神問題人士，由於缺乏適當的醫療護理和家人與朋友的支援，亦會流落街頭成為露宿者。不少人因為長期病患或受傷，失去工作收入，為了支付高昂醫療費用而債台高築，最後破產也淪為露宿者。很多離家出走的人亦成為露宿者，當中離開家庭的原因可能涉及性侵、家暴或精神虐待。
智利
智利境內目前有一萬二千名名露宿者，半數住在首都聖地牙哥。智利社會發展局於2011年發表的調查報告指出，77%的露宿者有工作，卻無法找到可負擔的住房。
智利是其中一個經濟發展最好的南美國家，然而聯合國專家指出，社會貧富懸殊的不平等現象和市場主導的房屋政策，導致人民按著社會階層被分隔。
智利缺乏社會福利，無家可歸只反映出國內整個貧困問題的部份景況。智利並沒有公立醫療服務，教育以私立學校為主。智利的最低月薪是十九萬三千披索(約四百美元)，根本無法支付生活所需。
國內半數的學生在私立學校就讀，平均學費是每月四百美元，僅低於最低工資。很多低收入家庭無法負擔子女教育，貧困情況無法得到改善。
近年頻繁的山火和地震令情況變得更差，這些天災令更多人失去家園，政府提供的援助十分有限，很多人往往最後白白空等一場。
為智利禱告
–陳德志傳道(中文翻譯)
親愛的天父：
我們來到祢的施恩寶座前為智利禱告，我們求祢的聖靈在人的心中動工，讓他們回應祢的愛。願祢的盼望和光明照遍每個破碎和漆黑的角落。求主繼續連絡和堅固祢的教會，裝備祢的子民，差遣他們去服事和關懷有需要的人。聖靈啊，請引領我們去接觸未及之民和活在邊緣的人，讓他們得著復和與救贖，榮耀祢的名。願萬膝向祢跪拜；願萬口宣稱耶穌是主！
如果你想瞭解更多關於城北在智利的和平福音工作，或有負擔參與這方面的服侍，請以電郵方式聯絡陳德志傳道。
Homelessness
Homelessness is a global pandemic that spans every society and country and continuous to derail people’s quality and decency of life and their potential to economic empowerment. Governments, social organizations and individuals must all jointly and severally tackle this problem to bring a lasting solution to it. It has been proven over time that homelessness will not improve by itself without concrete community, national, regional and global agenda to mitigate and militate it. In 2005, the United Nations estimated that there were 100 million homeless people worldwide. This number jumped to 1.6 billion people lacking adequate housing in 2015 representing 15 times increase over 10 years. The deterioration is simply staggering.
Homelessness was once considerably less visible half a century ago as 70% of the world’s population of 2.5 billion was spread out across rural areas. Housing problems, far removed from urban centers, were largely unnoticed. Today, 55% of the world’s population of 7.6 billion is concentrated in urban centers. Homelessness has become a more serious and noticeable issue.
Multiple factors contribute to homelessness. The most prominent one is people not being able to get affordable housing due to a lack of living wage caused by unemployment and underemployment. People with developmental disorders and mental illnesses often become homeless due to lack of a family and friend support structure and lack of treatment for their problems. Many people become homeless due to the fallout from a physical illness or injury. The exorbitant cost of healthcare and medical debt and discontinuation of employment income could lead to bankruptcy. Running away from abuse often results in homelessness. Many people become homeless due to sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.
Chile
There are currently around 12,000 homeless people in Chile, half in the capital city of Santiago. According to a study conducted by the Ministry for Social Development in 2011, 77% of Chile’s homeless population have jobs, yet struggle to afford accommodation.
Chile is one of South America’s most economically developed nations. Yet inequity and market driven approach to housing for vulnerable groups has contributed to the segregation of people in Chile based on socio-economic status, according to the UN expert.
Homelessness forms part of a wider poverty issue in a country which has little in the way of a welfare state. There is no national health service in Chile and its education system is largely privatised. Minimum wage in Chile is around 193,000 pesos (410 US dollars) a month. It is impossible to live on that salary.
Half of the country’s students attend schools costing parents on average 400 US dollars a month – just under the minimum wage. Consequently, many families on lower incomes struggle to cope and are pushed into poverty.
Forest fires and earthquake in recent years have made the situation worse. Homelessness is common following natural disasters. Those who face displacement after a natural disaster are given more assistance than those facing homelessness from other causes, but many times victims of natural disaster are left waiting for help that may never be given.
Praying for Chile
– Pastor Alex Chan
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before Your throne of grace to intercede for the nation of Chile. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the people there so that they may be receptive to Your love. May Your hope and light shine in areas of brokenness and darkness. Please continue to unite and strengthen your church. Equip and send your people to practically serve and care for the least of these. Holy Spirit, guide us to reach the unreached and marginalized. Let the restored and redeemed glorify Your Name. May every knee bow before You and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
If you are interested in knowing more about RHCCC’s PEACE program in Chile or would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Alex Chan.