The problem of the future: Homelessness

Although it may not find a place on the agenda of hot politics, the number one issue on the citizen's agenda is still the economy and high inflation. The ever-increasing cost of living, especially the rise in housing prices and rents, is seriously affecting purchasing power. So much so that housing prices have now lost their sense of normalcy, and it is doubtful whether they will ever find it again... In that case, another significant risk is emerging for Turkey; while it may not be an issue today, housing and, consequently, homelessness could become a very serious problem 10-15 years from now. 

One of Turkey's culturally significant advantages is the tradition of living with extended family and the fact that, if necessary, lifelong care is a duty shared and undertaken among family members. However, considering that this cultural heritage and the practice of looking after elderly relatives are expected to gradually decline in the new generation as individualism rises, it seems essential to address the care of the elderly population separately. We can say that the housing problem may become chronic not only for a certain age group living on a pension but also for young and middle-aged groups. 

Look at the United States, which has been trying to find solutions to the humanitarian problem of homelessness for years. According to reports written by official institutions on this subject, rising housing and rent prices, wages that cannot keep up with these housing prices, difficulty in accessing the healthcare system, high health insurance premiums, inequality of opportunity in education and the economy, and drug addiction have caused homelessness to increase over the years and become a social problem. 

Do high private health insurance premiums sound familiar to you? 

I can hear you saying, "They certainly do"... Then let's continue; in the United States, homeless people lose their lives 30 years earlier than the average American, and furthermore, due to treatable health problems. Therefore, accessing healthcare services and receiving free healthcare is very important. 

Free healthcare is still one of Turkey's strongest aspects today. However, especially when it comes to surgeries, the difficulty of getting appointments in state hospitals and the high fees of hospitals in the private sector are urgent problems being experienced today. 

The biggest misconception about the homeless in the United States is the belief that they can get rid of the problem of homelessness once they are included in employment. However, reports written on the subject state that between 40-60% of homeless people are employed, but they live on the streets because the wages they receive cannot cover housing and rent costs. Therefore, the idea that having a job, that is, being included in employment, solves the housing problem does not reflect the truth. 

Although it may not appear to be Turkey's fundamental problem from today's perspective, as long as rent and housing prices continue to rise, one of the most important problems of the next decade could be housing and the subsequent homelessness. Although strong family ties, neighborhood culture, the lifelong child-parent relationship, and free healthcare services protect Turkey from the risk of homelessness, it is necessary to be careful and take precautions. 

The solution is for the state to work in the interest of the public with a state policy that prioritizes the social state and public-mindedness, which is Turkey's founding philosophy.