Homelessness in Japan is virtually ignored and tolerated. Even the police tend to leave the homeless alone. There is a serious problem in Japanese work culture, which pretty much makes it impossible for men over 40 to get jobs. So, most of the homeless are men over 40. Generally, they are considered polite and quiet. The images below were taken in Shibuya, Tokyo. The Japanese people I was with, spoke freely with the men and there was no problem for me to take photos. You’ll see little shelters they’ve built and even little areas with knick knacks that people usually have in actual homes. There was a real sense of community and safety there. The smallest of apartments in Tokyo cost over $1000 usd and these men simply can’t afford the rent nor the key deposits. This is their last resort:

3aug14. Tokyo, Japan.

From brilliant young artist Yazan Halwani’s Facebook page, the story behind his beautiful new mural on Concorde/Hamra in Beirut:

Ali Abdallah.
Ali was a homeless man, and the legend of Bliss Street. I have personally crossed Ali countless times on his street.
A few months ago, Ali died on the coldest night of Beirut’s winter because he was living in pitiful conditions. Ali’s death triggered short-lived actions to help the homeless in Beirut (for one or two weeks).
I painted this mural a few hundred meters from Ali’s street to immortalize him and to remind us that we should not wait the death of another Ali to help others.
I wrote “Ghadan Yawmone Afdal” (Tomorrow is a better day) while listening to a song of the similar title by Mashrou’ Leila, in the hope that tomorrow will be a better day.