Homeless foreigners in Thailand 'lack assistance'

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
Homeless foreigners 'lack assistance'
SAOWANEE NIMPANPAYUNGWONG
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A GROWING NUMBER of foreign tourists and retirees are becoming homeless in Thailand, and the country should change its mindset to help them - at least with initial assistance - especially with the Asean Economic Community fast approaching, the head of a non-government group working with homeless and displaced people has said.

There are believed to be up to 30 homeless foreigners in Chiang Mai, and there have been reported sightings in popular tourist areas like Phuket and Chon Buri, Natee Saravari, secretary-general of the Issarachon Foundation, said.

"They walk or sit in shopping malls during the daytime and scavenge through garbage for food at night," he said.

In some cases, these foreigners - mostly male Westerners - arrived as tourists or retirees and fell into poverty or neglect after settling down in Thailand, often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners, Natee explained.

They receive meagre amounts of money from sympathetic foreigners who are aware of their plight, but there was no Thai government agency or even a policy in place to help them.

Due to what Natee dubbed the "Thai-state mentality", there is no law or mechanism to help out foreigners in such cases. When arrested or found by the police, they are mostly deported.

Natee suggested an amendment to the laws and government policy was needed in the long run, and an ad-hoc mechanism put in place in the meantime to deal with such cases, in order to provide immediate assistance. "As the AEC 2015 is nearing, there should be assistance given immediately for such people," he said.

He suggested the Social Develop-ment and Human Security Ministry launch an initiative with officials from other countries in the region to welcome retirees for long stays and to discuss putting a mechanism in place to take care of foreigners who fall into destitution and become homeless.

The head of a government-run asylum in Nonthaburi, Supranee Kaewphet, said there were a few homeless Chinese nationals staying at the facility in addition to some Cambodians.

A senior ministry official, Panya Kangphorn, said a bill on providing assistance to foreigners was awaiting parliamentary scrutiny.


-- The Nation 2013-08-19

[Pimay1]

often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners, Natee explained.

Quite often I would say.

[theblether]

However it came to be deportation is the right answer

[NCC1701A]

what is the moral of this story?

[canopy]

When arrested or found by the police, they are mostly deported.

That's good already so why change it make them a burden to the Thai people? Best they go back to where they came from and have a better chance of breaking out of this cycle.

Edited August 18, 2013 by canopy

[chooka]

I think being a westerner Thailand would be the last place you would want to end up homeless and destitute. I wouldn't like to be homeless in Australia either but at least there are services available to offer some help.

A fair percentage of homeless people suffer from some form of mental heath and I would also guess that a few of the farang homeless in Thailand are suffering from shame and depression after being duped by a Thai women and don't want to return home to face family and friends who think they are living the good life in Thailand.

This may sound a little harsh but I think if you see a homeless farang in Thailand you should report them so they can be deported where they have access to social security and other services.

[andrewrooney]

Honestly, for people from Western countries, getting sent back to their home country is probably the best thing that can happen in that situation. There there are social welfare services available, and many of them would have a chance to get a job and get back on their feet.

A much tricker situation is homeless from Burma, Lao, etc., many of whom are stateless and could face persecution if sent back.

If Thailand isn't going to help out Rohingya, Hmong etc. why would they be bothered to help out broke westerners?

[theblether]

I think being a westerner Thailand would be the last place you would want to end up homeless and destitute. I wouldn't like to be homeless in Australia either but at least there are services available to offer some help.

A fair percentage of homeless people suffer from some form of mental heath and I would also guess that a few of the farang homeless in Thailand are suffering from shame and depression after being duped by a Thai women and don't want to return home to face family and friends who think they are living the good life in Thailand.

This may sound a little harsh but I think if you see a homeless farang in Thailand you should report them so they can be deported where they have access to social security and other services.

Yes I agree with that, and their countries should require proof that they have been TV members for a year before allowing them on a flight to Thailand.

That would sort the problem out.

[meatboy]

assistance for the homeless[tramps] help up the stairway then flown back to where they came from.thats what i would give them

i help 2 in the late eighties only to the tune of £200 each then they shit on a few others after,one of them came to thailand after recieving £100,000 redundancy payment blew the lot then continued to beg.sorry i have no sympathy for them.

[metisdead]

A post using all caps has been removed, turn off your Caps Lock button when posting!

Some other nonsense posts have been removed as well.

Edited August 19, 2013 by metisdead

[Nisa]

When arrested or found by the police, they are mostly deported.

That's good already so why change it make them a burden to the Thai people? Best they go back to where they came from and have a better chance of breaking out of this cycle.

I am sure if their own embassy would help them, such as giving them a place to stay and food money or ticket home, then I am sure Thailand (and many Thais) would have no problem paying for their transportation to their embassy.

[chainarong]

what is the moral of this story?

The moral, make sure you know the game, if not, enter at your own risk .

[thomash]

They should be deported it is not Thailand

responsibility to deal with Foreigners

who allow themselves to get ripped off or

actually in a lot more cases I think it

has to do with their involvement in drugs

and alcohol. And again Thailand is not

responsible to deal with that they have

their hands full dealing with Thais

who have that problem.

[Badbanker]

Many of them have an alcohol abuse problems and are on welfare in their home countries and come here for winter as it is way too cold living on the streets in Northern Europe.

I know of one European man who has been deported 10 times and returned every year, to be deported again!

Problem is once you are overstayed, the police are often reticent (read lazy) to arrest you and most embassies do not have the funding to pay for your deportation.

As their is no blacklisting for repeat overstaying, Thailand will continue to be subject to street farangs till the laws change!

There is one British guy in the IDC for some time now, who does not have money to buy a ticket home, who is slowly going crazy.

Edited August 19, 2013 by Badbanker

[DocN]

"In some cases, these foreigners... often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners..."

...and of course the usual, emphatic reaction on TV is "som nam na", "what the f... do I care", "deport the idiots" etc.

[sadhukar]

So this is what 60% of ThaiVisa forum posters are like. Eye-opening!

"In some cases, these foreigners... often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners..."

...and of course the usual, emphatic reaction on TV is "som nam na", "what the f... do I care", "deport the idiots" etc.

Oh of course, if it's foreigners we must show sympathy. But god forbid if the article in question is talking about Thais!

[jackr]

i help 2 in the late eighties only to the tune of £200 each then they shit on a few others after,one of them came to thailand after recieving £100,000 redundancy payment blew the lot then continued to beg.sorry i have no sympathy for them.

No sympathy for any of them because of two dodgy ones? That's harsh.

I'll go against the fold and say it is Thailand's responsibility to help. They are happy enough to let people in without a visa or showing any funds in the hope to make lots of revenue, which they have done for several decades. And these people have likely dropped a lot more into the system than their Thai brethren on the street have ever done.

Druggies and bad apples can go spit, but a lot of these chaps have just lost their way and/or had the shaft. But I agree they need to go home (airheads/dealers on the street first) where they'll likely receive help, though don't agree with this 'burden the Thai people' tripe. The day that happens... well, it never will.

[chooka]

"In some cases, these foreigners... often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners..."

...and of course the usual, emphatic reaction on TV is "som nam na", "what the f... do I care", "deport the idiots" etc.

No, that's not it at all. People on here can't reverse the fact that they may have been duped that in the past. Having them deported home where there is possible family and services available is far more humane than leaving them to live and die with the soi dogs.

[noitom]

"Often having been duped or robbed by Thai wives or Thai partners." Buyer beware in Thailand.

[Redhawk]

So then all western countries should send all thai nationals back to Thailand, currently living in europe and who would be homeless if the social systems have not protecting them getting that! What one expect of a country who do not care about their poor or homeless? Deciding yourself lifing in Thailand must taken carefully because otherwise sometimes you go back only in a coffin before being robbed of all your assets!

[4evermaat]

No sympathy for any of them because of two dodgy ones? That's harsh.

I'll go against the fold and say it is Thailand's responsibility to help. They are happy enough to let people in without a visa or showing any funds in the hope to make lots of revenue, which they have done for several decades. And these people have likely dropped a lot more into the system than their Thai brethren on the street have ever done.

........

I do somewhat agree here. Thailand certainly allowed them here on the gamble that the westerner (on average) will add significant financial value in terms of infrastructure, cash, etc.

Edit: So a bottle of drinking water, shower, and free ride to the embassy is the least you can do if the cash cow finds himself down on their luck.

"...the 2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app (Galaxy Note 2).

Edited August 19, 2013 by 4evermaat

[BwindiBoy]

However it came to be deportation is the right answer

In principle, I agree with you 100%. However, I think the most sensible thing Thailand could do to avert this situation is to give the Farang more protection from being duped, i.e. Farangs walk away from a relationship with at least half of the assets. It would take a bit of thinking as to how this is calculated and how to ensure assets are accurately assessed (e.g. protection against the Thai party ceding assets to someone else) but I think this should be where their focus is.

After that, I completely agree with you; if they are still broke, send them back to their own country.

[harryfrompattaya]

what is the moral of this story?

It is time for America and England and EU to give them more money so they can give it away again the same way

Sorry to say we are going to have poor homeless stupid peopel

[alant]

Chiangmai has 30 homeless!!! such a low number, if they were assisted would the numbers swell?

I don't understand why the migrants come here if it doesn't improve their lot. Wouldn't the socialist states of Laos and Vietnam be better?

[worgeordie]

Where are all these reported Tramps for a better word,30 reported in Chiang Mai,

I don't dress that well, just hope they did not mistake me for one !

Regards Worgeordie

[copa8]

So then all western countries should send all thai nationals back to Thailand, currently living in europe and who would be homeless if the social systems have not protecting them getting that! What one expect of a country who do not care about their poor or homeless? Deciding yourself lifing in Thailand must taken carefully because otherwise sometimes you go back only in a coffin before being robbed of all your assets!

thai nationals or thai immigrants? if they are legal immigrants, then they should be entitled to whatever social welfare systems that's already in place.

thailand (and almost all of asia) doesn't have a welfare system.

[bubba]

Due to what Natee dubbed the "Thai-state mentality", there is no law or mechanism to help out foreigners in such cases.

Maybe I am not very sympathetic, but I don't see handouts or assistance to homeless foreigners as "Thai-state mentality". Taxpayer funding for assistance to the homeless, jobless and needy is limited in any country, and it makes sense to deport homeless foreigners so that more of these limited fund is available to a country's own citizens. That is, unless homeless foreigners are legitimate refugees who would face persecution if deported back home. Many homeless citizens were taxpayers in past, and with a bit of help to get them back on their feet, could be taxpayers again.

[h90]

I think being a westerner Thailand would be the last place you would want to end up homeless and destitute. I wouldn't like to be homeless in Australia either but at least there are services available to offer some help.

A fair percentage of homeless people suffer from some form of mental heath and I would also guess that a few of the farang homeless in Thailand are suffering from shame and depression after being duped by a Thai women and don't want to return home to face family and friends who think they are living the good life in Thailand.

This may sound a little harsh but I think if you see a homeless farang in Thailand you should report them so they can be deported where they have access to social security and other services.

Thailand is warm.....I don't want to be homeless in Novosibirsk.

[Kerryd]

Meh - long winded rant deleted.

Long story short, until Thailand can provide decent social assistance to it's own people, the only thing they should be doing for foreigners is giving them a place to stay in the IDC until they are sent back to where they came from.

MOST of the "down and out" foreigners I've met were in that situation because of their own stupidity. Actually, change that to "ALL" of the "down & outs" I've met. Be it in the form of (booze/drugs/women), their own lack of self control got them there. Giving them any kind of state-sponsored assistance to stay in Thailand would just encourage them to continue the same behavior and it wouldn't be long before Thailand started getting flooded with all manner of foreigners suddenly needing "assistance".

There are some few genuine cases (say, someone who lost all their ID and possessions in a house fire or something) but for the rest, their stupidity shouldn't be funded by Thailand.

[Docno]

"In some cases, these foreigners... often having being duped or robbed by Thai former wives or partners..."

...and of course the usual, emphatic reaction on TV is "som nam na", "what the f... do I care", "deport the idiots" etc.

I read it the opposite way... that it was a statement sympathetic to the homeless foreigners because they are simply victims of those crafty and evil Thai women. Such an assumption/statement is equally ridiculous, of course.