Japan's New Affordable Housing

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-03-27 22:11:00 UTC
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The economic crisis is taking a toll on Japan, causing jobs to disappear and creating a surge in the number of homeless laid off workers. For many, being homeless creates a catch-22; in order to get a job, you must have an address. But to pay for a home, you need a job. What's a person to do?

Just one hour outside of Tokyo, an small internet cafe has found a way to keep business booming while providing a solution to this conundrum. The small, somewhat private rooms typically used for Internet surfing are being rented out as overnight accommodations for around $20 US dollars per night. While the living space may not be ideal, it beats the street and, most importantly, provides an address, which is often the only route out of homelessness.

(Here's another report on the internet cafe homeless from the BBC.)

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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