Homelessness is one of the most visible manifestations of social inequality. Globally, individuals experiencing homelessness often face multiple layers of marginalization – not only lacking stable housing but also encountering barriers to healthcare, employment as well as social services. The causes of homelessness are complex and intertwined, ranging from poverty, unemployment, and housing shortages to mental illness, substance abuse, and systemic discrimination.

Society frequently stigmatizes people experiencing homelessness, framing them as “deviant” or “irresponsible,” rather than acknowledging structural issues that contribute to their situation. This marginalization can exacerbate isolation, making it even more difficult for individuals to access the support they need. Despite these challenges, homelessness is not a homogeneous experience: some are long-term street dwellers, while others experience temporary displacement due to sudden financial or personal crises.

In China, homelessness is prevalent in both urban and rural areas, although it is often less visible due to the government’s efforts to regulate public spaces and implement temporary relief programs. Many people experiencing homelessness are migrants from rural regions who move to cities seeking work but lack access to affordable housing, social welfare, or legal documentation. This group is particularly vulnerable, as urban hukou (household registration) systems restrict access to healthcare, education, and social benefits, effectively excluding them from full participation in city life.

In Chinese society, where social harmony, family responsibility, and economic productivity are highly valued, those who cannot maintain stable employment or housing are often viewed as outsiders or failures. Homeless individuals may face public scrutiny, harassment, or forced relocation, reinforcing their invisibility and social exclusion.

The Homeless (Dir. JI Qiuyu) explores just that: human displacement and the social margins of contemporary China. Set against urban fissures where society’s overlooked individuals gather, the film centers on the Lichen Shelter, a crumbling refuge run by social worker Zhu Cong. Within its walls lives a group of outcasts, each carrying personal trauma and societal neglect. Among them is Xiaolong, an abuse survivour without legal identity – a situation that raises the shocking question: how is this even possible in the 21st century, in one’s own country? He becomes a portrait of a citizen repeatedly failed by the systems around him. Meanwhile, Waiwai, a scavenger drawn to the streets, illustrates the dangers of a life lived entirely outside conventional society.

Xiaolong’s journey is particularly interesting. Though he attempts to reintegrate into society, he faces persistent obstacles: estrangement from his family, limited support from social services, and the emotional burden of past trauma. Even the help offered by the shelter, intended as a lifeline, feels insufficient, leaving him in a liminal space between hope and resignation. In choosing to remain a drifter, Xiaolong’s decision challenges common notions of homelessness as merely a condition of need or failure; instead, the film presents it as a complex negotiation of identity, autonomy, and survival.

JI Qiuyu’s direction is sensitive yet unflinching, portraying the streets not just as spaces of deprivation but also as alternative communities where individuals like Xiaolong and Waiwai find agency, friendship, and belonging. The film interrogates a fundamental question: why do some people find their way back to society while others remain on its margins? The answer is never simple. For some, family, resources, and social support create a pathway back; for others, repeated exclusion, trauma, or the absence of important connections make the street feel like the only viable home.

Through naturalistic performances and understated storytelling, The Homeless foregrounds the humanity of those society often renders invisible. Without a doubt, it is an important piece of filmmaking.

In China, as elsewhere, addressing homelessness requires more than temporary shelters; it requires a reevaluation of social attitudes, structural support for vulnerable populations, and policies that ensure housing, healthcare, and social inclusion. Recognising homeless individuals as members of society with dignity, rather than as marginal or invisible, is a crucial step toward meaningful change.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of ALULA Film Festival

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