On Tuesday night the temperature in Guangzhou fell to 6℃, the rain was heavy and winds coming in from the north were particularly strong. The city issued an orange warning and homeless shelters were urged to rise to increasing demand for sanctuary from the cold.

However, reporters from Yangcheng Evening News discovered that plenty of beggars were opting to stay under footbridges and in underpasses. Kecun Lijiao, East Haotong and Huangshi Lijiao all had at least ten homeless people each spending the night there.

A homeless man and his girlfriend erect a wooden board to protect themselves from the wind, image courtesy of Nandu Daily

The main reason cited for opting to stay out there instead of enjoy the beds, warm clothes, and food provided by homeless shelters? Freedom. One of the city’s over 400 homeless shelters has filled less than half of its 500 beds, according to the reports.

Volunteers have been sent around the city to bring food and blankets, but some homeless people have even refused those. Shi Xiaojia, a member of a team of volunteers that helps the homeless, has discovered that Guangzhou’s homeless shelters have been likened to prisons and do not attack the roots of social problems by, for example, providing health care for the elderly and education for the young.

Shi Xiaojia has called for volunteers to show more respect for the homeless instead of just giving handouts.