Matsushige Itou, 55
NPO Staff Worker
What does your NPO do?
We support not only homeless people but individuals on the edge as well. Many have lost their job because of the economic downturn, or other reasons. If using the broader classification of homeless, there’s probably 10,000 in Osaka. Our area is Kamagasaki, inside Osaka city. It’s a laborer’s town.
What kind of employment program do you offer?
Mainly we register individuals for jobs. Last year we operated under the national budget; this year the money comes from Osaka prefecture and Osaka city. That change means our budget was cut from 900,000,000 yen to about 700,000,000 yen. This is a significant slash. With the amount of money we have available only 199 individuals can work. Most homeless make 30,000 yen a month, on average.
Do they receive food handouts?
Some Christian and other groups give out food in parks. Convenient stores and restaurants like McDonald’s donate old food. It’s perfectly edible but past the selling date. There are quite a few convenient stores in Osaka. That helps. In some cases they sell the old food really cheap, like just 100 yen.
Why do the homeless become homeless, in general?
In America and Europe I often hear that drugs are a big problem with homeless. In Japan it’s quite different. There isn’t a drug problem.
Alcohol?
There is alcoholism but the number is not high. The main reason is economic, the bubble burst. The situation changed dramatically in the 1970s. Many salarymen lost their jobs and were left with inadequate funds, inadequate pensions. When people are on the edge of homelessness it doesn’t take much—an illness, an injury, a personal problem. This is the mistake of the government, to not have programs in place to take care of them. If the government could create jobs, they’d all want to work. With globalization the companies are pulling out. In Japan now there are no large factories. Middle aged people have no places to work. Even when there is a modern factory now, where they used to employ 500 workers, no they only hire 100 due to mechanization.
It’s often said that homeless choose that lifestyle. To what extent is that true?
It’s a rationalization. Most people want to blame the victim. The cause of homelessness lack of employment. People want to be in charge of their own lives so many would rather eke out a living on the streets rather than take handouts. The interviewers don’t look at the causes of homelessness.
For a personal question, why did you want to do this job?
I didn’t want to do it! (laughs) I started living here in 1976 while working as a day laborer myself. That work is too hard. The main reason I got the job was because I knew bookkeeping. Others didn’t have that experience so I got the job by default (laughs).
Are you satisfied?
I can’t say I am. The problems aren’t being solved unfortunately. Many homeless are dying.
What about the future?
I want to quit (laughs). I’d like to see the problems solved soon so the homeless can live a better life. The thinking of the entire society has to change. People need to understand that there just aren’t jobs. It’s a problem of how the tax money is used.
the end