More than half of Thailand's "homeless" population live in Bangkok due to economic problems and family breakdowns. This is a major challenge for the governor, who must urgently resolve it to give them hope and eventually a true "home".
Amid the civilization of the capital city Bangkok, images of the exquisite Grand Palace, the beautiful ancient architecture of Phra Nakhon, the bustling Ratchadamnoen and Khao San roads that never sleep, the greenery and busy exercisers at Lumpini Park, and the lively traffic at Hua Lamphong train station are all familiar.
But another familiar sight is the "homeless." They sit lined up on sidewalks, take shelter in the shadows of alleys, hide from sun and rain under bridges, and wait for charity from kind-hearted people just to survive each day.
Thairath Online's special news team surveyed the Rattanakosin area, which is considered a "hotspot" where the largest concentration of homeless people gather in Bangkok. According to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security's triennial nationwide survey, the latest in 2023 found 2,499 homeless people across the country, with over half residing in Bangkok. This remains a major problem the new governor must urgently address.
These people left their homes and live on the streets for various reasons: shattered career dreams, broken families, economic conditions preventing employment, some without relatives to rely on. Although they try to stand on their own, many repeatedly fail. Some come with chronic illnesses or alcoholism, making it impossible for families to continue caring for them.
We followed a day in the life of "Sao," a 44-year-old homeless man originally from Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, who became homeless after all his family members—father, mother, and siblings—passed away. The rented house he used to live in was reclaimed by the owner, leaving him without a home. He was also previously imprisoned for a horse betting case and struggles to find work due to his criminal record.
"Sleeping on the street is tormenting. Sometimes, when I had money, I rented a hotel room to sleep comfortably—no mosquitoes biting, no passersby, no disturbances, my belongings wouldn't disappear, streetlights wouldn't shine in my eyes, and I wouldn't be startled awake by car horns. But when sleeping outside, even after a quick shower, I feel sticky all over. I have to stay alert, always worried someone might steal my money."
Currently, he has lived under the Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge for over two years. After waking, Sao goes to shower at "Sod Chuen Sathan," a shower service point under the bridge. On lucky days when someone hires him for work, he takes the bus early to work and uses his wages to buy cheap curry rice, enjoying the small happiness of choosing the dish he wants.
But on most days without many options, Sao waits for food near Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge or along Ratchadamnoen Road. Otherwise, he walks or takes the bus to "Baan Imjai," near the old Mainsri Waterworks in Pom Prap Sattru Phai District, where hundreds of homeless people gather daily, hoping for charity food distributions.
Regarding "Baan Imjai," it is a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration rehabilitation center for the homeless that began operation in early 2026. It provides sleeping quarters, bathrooms, clothing, medical care, and meals for about 200 people—100 men and 100 women. Conditions include vocational training such as cooking, hairdressing, and gardening. Residents can stay for two months, but those who do not wish to train can stay seven nights per month.
Upon arrival at Baan Imjai, besides the vocational trainees and those staying in dormitories, we found 200–300 homeless individuals stationed at various spots around the area, waiting for lunch donations. Each person must register with their ID card to receive a queue number from staff.
When donors bring food, it is distributed according to the queue, with no choice of dish. The menu and quantity depend on how many donors come and the amounts they bring, which cannot be predicted in advance.
The news team waited with Sao and hundreds of homeless people until about 1:00 p.m., when the first batch of food arrived—20 pieces of bread. By nearly 2:00 p.m., the second, third, and fourth food batches arrived gradually, sometimes noodles or curry rice. This means the meal is often served hours after midday. Some who had breakfast might manage, but many for whom this is the first meal can only hold their stomachs and wait.
Some days, foundations, civil society groups, or government agencies come to distribute food and provide services. On the day we visited, the "Isarachon Foundation" was distributing dinner, giving dry food items, conducting basic health checks and first aid, and collaborating with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to provide counseling and assistance, along with the National Health Security Office to transfer medical rights from home provinces to Bangkok.
To access government services, having an ID card is very important to verify identity. However, many homeless people do not have ID cards—either never had one or lost it. To address this, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration operates a mobile unit issuing new ID cards once a month, limited to about 20 people per session, which may still restrict access due to time and capacity.
Leaving Baan Imjai, we walked past Bangkok City Hall, turned onto Atsadang Road, and reached Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge, where about a hundred homeless people sit on both sides of the street, waiting for evening food donations.
Sao took the news team to wait there until about 6:30 p.m., when food donors set up a donation table. The homeless formed orderly lines to receive food, which quickly ran out.
Sao said that near Sanam Luang and along Ratchadamnoen Road are also places where kind people regularly donate food, goods, and money daily. Multiple donors come each day, and sometimes some homeless sell the donated food cheaply to laborers and shop staff nearby to get money for expenses.
In the past, homeless groups have had to adapt to harsh weather—intense sun, heavy rain—sometimes staying on sidewalks, sometimes hiding in bridge corners. Many choose to live in groups for safety, while some prefer to be alone.
"The scary part is when strangers walk back and forth all night without repeating faces, drunk foreigners from Khao San Road, some armed, throwing bottles and such. We have to avoid them, fearing they might kill us."
While Sao became homeless out of life necessity, many homeless people choose this life willingly. Some have homes but cannot find peace or safety there. Choosing street life can bring more comfort and happiness. This is a key reason why the problem persists despite government and civil society efforts.
Sao said many homeless people he knows have stable housing but do not want to return. Some have tried but eventually resumed wandering. Their homes may not be comforting, or they may have become addicted to street life because of its freedom and the help they receive, making them reluctant to start anew.
"Some don't want to go home because living like this is comfortable—no one bothers them, no work needed, no food to buy, just wait for handouts. Some sell what they get for 40–50 baht to buy alcohol."
Ramrung Worawat, Director-General of the Department of Social Development and Welfare, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, explained that homeless people are classified as "people without support," which includes those who have homes but cannot live there due to lack of support, and those who never had a home, having grown up in public spaces.
"If relationships within a household are poor, a person may decide to leave and seek new friends and environments, possibly feeling happier outside. But living in public spaces exposes them to factors preventing their return home, such as drugs, alcohol, and irregular employment."
Another factor, though not the main cause but contributing to continued street life, is "people's compassion," who provide food, clothing, and supplies. While this alleviates immediate hardship, it is not a stable refuge and does not transform public space living into proper housing or daily meals into sustainable livelihoods. When homeless people feel satisfied without a home, it makes officials' work even more challenging.
"The greatest challenge is helping those in public spaces to adapt, understand, open up, and join life quality development and rights protection processes. This is difficult because leaving home usually follows severe experiences—loss of love, warmth, and family ties—making it very hard for officials to build new relationships with those who have turned away from home."
Social support is crucial to sustainably solving homelessness. For Sao, street life forces daily survival struggles. Some days he eats well and sleeps peacefully; other days, hardships may leave no chance to recover. These cycles make him want to return to work and earn money, leading him to join a project. "Hire Me" by Mirror Foundation, where he works as a donation item organizer.
Currently, Sao has worked for over two months. On workdays, he earns 500 baht daily, and within less than a month since speaking with the news team, he is about to rent a room with his own earnings, no longer needing to sleep under the Pinklao Bridge.
"Life is completely different. When I had no money, I just sat waiting for food aimlessly. Sometimes it took a long time to arrive, and my stomach burned with hunger. But now that I have a job, I can buy whatever I want and feel full. Simply put, it’s a big difference. I endure work a bit more because next month I’ll have a permanent place to stay."
Although Sao's life has improved, he is a small minority among thousands of homeless people still needing Bangkok's help to restore their lives, create job opportunities, heal physical and mental wounds, and encourage them to abandon street life and start anew. Equally important is fostering societal openness, offering chances, and restoring their hope to have a "home" that serves as genuine shelter and support in life.
