How one Chinese city has stopped homeless people from sleeping on sidewalk

Most of the homeless who had established themselves on the sidewalk were relocated to an uninhabited residential building

Officials in the Guangxi city of Liuzhou have developed an innovative way of dealing with the city’s homeless problem.

No, that’s not some sort of modern art installation. It’s a method that authorities have devised to literally prevent homeless people from sleeping on that particular sidewalk by ensuring that they have no space to lie down.

According to local news reports, around 10 homeless people started taking root at this promenade in 2016, setting up mattresses and mats to sleep on. Authorities said that the homeless were causing a number of health and safety problems and eventually decided to take action.

Last August, most of the homeless people who had established themselves on the sidewalk were relocated to a previously uninhabited residential building, while pillars were set up on the sidewalk as a “temporary solution.” At the moment, officials are reportedly mulling over plans to make the promenade into a greenway or fill it with outdoor exercise equipment.

However, it appears that even with the dozens upon dozens of pillars that they installed, they still missed a spot or two.

Perhaps these urban planners got this idea from officials in Changchun, who, back in 2014, tried to use parking locks to curb the annoying activities of China’s troublesome dancing aunties.

[Images via NetEase]