Why Prague's homeless are resorting to poverty tourism

Homelessness is on the rise globally, and the Czech Republic has the highest rate in central and eastern Europe. The Guardian visited Prague, for a long time a popular destination for tourists, to see how even this sector caters for the city’s visitors - and to meet the range of people aiming to tackle the causes of homelessness in all its forms.
Subscribe to The Guardian on KZbin ► bit.ly/subscribegdn
The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► bit.ly/3uhA7zg
Chapters:
00:00 - A homeless tour of Prague
01:52 - Is homeless tourism unethical?
03:20 - Nadjêje's homeless shelters: a social housing crisis in the Czech Republic
05:25 - Street homeless outreach team: 'the entire eastern bloc is relocating here'
06:40 - 'Homeless women face a whole host of problems': Jako doma's day centre
08:35 - A bistro run by homeless women
08:53 - Invisible people: Místní místním's homeless network
09:59 - 'An escape from reality that grinds me down': reintegrating homeless people into society
Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► theguardian.com/first-edition
Website ► www.theguardian.com
Facebook ► / theguardian
Twitter ► / guardian
Instagram ► / guardian
The Guardian on KZbin:
Guardian News ► bit.ly/guardiannewssubs
Guardian Australia ► bit.ly/guardianaussubs
Guardian Football ► bit.ly/gdnfootballsubs
Guardian Sport ► bit.ly/gdnsportsubs
Guardian Live ► bit.ly/guardianlivesubs
#Prague #CzechRepublik #Homelessness #Tourism #Poverty #News

[@wizardofoz1390]

The disparity between obscenely wealthy and obscenely poor grows everyday unfortunately 🙏

[@justaname999]

The Czech Republic has one of the lowest wealth disparities in Europe, though.

[@lauren6509]

I love that the journalist Richard is walking with a cane. His disability isn't hidden and it's nothing to be shameful about. It's something small but appreciated.

[@Maliceless100]

Middle class is shrinking everywhere, as power continues centralizing. . .The first trillionaire is expected to emerge in a few years.

[@sew_gal7340]

I think the goal is to reach god tier, and then who knows, maybe they will see us as ants that are infesting their "planet"...and since AI will replace everything maybe they will just wipe out the rest of us and have robots keep them company. I am in my 30s...im glad i wont be around when the extermination rolls out

[@1789Bastille]

yup, we have no issue with rich people. But some peoples wealth is perverted. Not some rich lawyer, pilot or doctor is the problem. But some kid who can live of his interest from his family office.

[@stevenrunyon170]

Good I like success stories

[@martadias906]

​@@1789Bastilleim a doctor and earn 1500 euros a month. We have to stop with the idea that we are not exploited. The money that would be for me 50 years ago, now is for some chineses guy that bought the hospital. Great times that we live

[@carinaadams6797]

⁠@@martadias906*WHAT?!!* I’m just an administrator and I earn more than you??? *That is insane!* I’m in the UK but still… You’re a doctor for crying out loud, you should be on at least 3000 euros, depending on what kind of doctor you are of course.

[@eksbocks9438]

7:57 "German prices, with Czech wages." That's a very good way to describe the situation.

[@user-bj4cu7uu5k]

It's spot on that's why I left earlier this year after eight years there.

[@boshkebab]

@@user-bj4cu7uu5k Same! Prague has become unliveable unless you own property to live in.

[@serebii666]

@@boshkebab Which the majority do.

[@boshkebab]

@@serebii666 Indeed! Most people do own their property. And with own, I mean paid off, no mortgage left. Most young people who glorify Prague as 'nice' or 'liveable' inherited some apartment from their grandparents or other relatives. Sure, then it can be 'nice' (I still wouldn't call it that but a las) and 'liveable'...

[@serebii666]

@@boshkebab I have many friends who live in rented apartments all over the city, from the city center in P1, to P2, P3, P5, P6, P9, P10, P15. They are all doing fine, and have money to have pets, start families and travel. None of these friends inherited anything. I then have further friends who have mortgages and are sitting pretty with 2,3% rates, some having bought detached houses now that they have children. All people in their late 20s and early 30s. So no, you are very off mark with your assessment. But complaining and being pessimistic is the Czech spirit after all, so I guess you're culturally well adjusted.

[@workinprogresssince1974]

The question is, does this help to get these people off the streets, or is this just an entertainment for richer people to act like they care? It feels like voyerism.

[@katherenewedic8076]

that's the truth. it is bull$ht. the rich are sad mofos and need to be fined for being aHoles

[@fromthestreets3]

It's a gimmick

[@JamesLawner]

I find this informative because I wasn’t aware of this particular situation.

[@methus57]

why is it that "richer people" have to be the ones to solve the homeless situation? would you rather the "richer people" did nothing for these people? Since when is devoting money to the homeless "entertainment" & "voyerism?"

[@Mastercane98]

I can say that, from my own experience, the middle class is the one that detests poor people the most. Everyone is selfish, our economic system is based on greed, though you can see it from how the welfare system is designed that the undesirable are purposely left out. I would like to point out that most voters are in fact from the middle class, so the welfare system is mainly designed to their liking.

[@ritagam4514]

Coming from india, i really enjoyed the poverty tour..i felt sorry initially for them but realized that this was means of income, so goving them this tour helped in feeding them for the day

[@Dqtube]

The situation is not as simple as this video tries to suggest. In the Czech Republic, unemployment has been low for a long time and there are many jobs open outside Prague for not very skilled people in manufacturing. They don't pay good wages and the work isn't fun, but it's enough to cover rent, food, clothing and other necessities. Unless a homeless person has a serious health problem( it doesn't matter if it's mental or physical), they don't have to live on the streets. For example, part of the narrative of the video is that refugees from Ukraine are also responsible for the situation, but according to official statistics, 93%(270 thousand people) of them are employed and have jobs, and these are people who did not speak the language two years ago, and their previous education and work experience are not accepted in many cases. So they have to work in lower job classifications than they had back home.

[@JaceFalcon]

Easy to say from a lerch of privilege

[@justaname999]

@@JaceFalcon What even are you saying? This is completely true. The Czech Republic is one of the countries in Europe with the smallest wealth gap and there very much *is* a strong middle class. Taking this video as an indication of this being the "real" Prague or Czech Republic shows who lacks insight and it's not the original post here. The center of Prague has ben bought up by wealthy foreigners and turned into a Disneyland Air bnb hell but outside of Prague housing and life in general are very affordable.

[@ralphbernhard1757]

Same story all over the world.

[@wertpollwert]

Yep. Same shit different smell.

[@przegrywentertainment2725]

for sure the whole eastern europe

[@windmacher]

Looks like London

[@stache1954]

@@windmacher The more you help the more they come.

[@boshkebab]

Not entirely true! Prague is extreme.

[@BE-bs8oe]

They should do this in many countries, not only homeless but also to speak about the impact if tourism on citizens.

[@peter_meyer]

This shouldn't be necessary. Anywhere.

[@tungstenanderson5991]

I think that's why places in Italy are starting to charge people just for visiting. They have a very old and crumbling infrastructure and keep up with the millions of people flocking there who use it.

[@LadyMul]

Homeless tours is a good idea when done with dignity, tourists need educating, most repeatedly visit Prague and other cities that have become popular in past few years with party crowds who are clueless about how poor people are out priced from housing but then the local government need that tourism money if there’s not other industry.

[@Sad_bumper_sticker.]

I think the line between voyeuristic poverty-entertainment objectifying (formerly or precarious) unhoused people and empowering person-centered sharing about their own and local poverty experiences with the goal of educating about the reality of poverty and make people more politically aware, more understanding of how hard it is to break the cycle of poverty, become more empathetic to the financial struggles of the poorest. There's also the moral issue of disenfranchised people taking on the emotional labor of exposing themselves to having to re-describe the traumatic experiences revolving around extreme poverty and being unhoused and being paid for their trauma-autobiographical storytelling.

[@eedragonr]

Poor and in need people who are working, offering services or doing anything else deserve more respect and support than others.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I totally understand the frustration about government helping Ukrainian than it's own people

[@LadyMul]

@@___beyondhorizon4664 but there was homelessness before Ukrainians and probably EU money funding them more than local taxes. It’s sad when refugees fleeing wars are blamed for long term problems local government has ignored for decades.

[@christinasornbutnark1208]

Literally the same thing is happening in Los Angeles but homelessness is treated as a crime.

[@katherenewedic8076]

it's been happening since Regan was governor in the 1960s

[@carolr7823]

Many of those homeless in Los Angeles are drug addicts and criminals.

[@bluelotus.society]

@@katherenewedic8076Everything wrong today points right back to Reagan and Thatcher and their destructive neoliberal policies, especially the big lie of "trickle-down" economics... which was more like a vacuum in the opposite direction, letting the rich siphon every last penny from the middle and lower classes and emptying society's coffers... all for what?? So we could have global income inequality not seen since the days of Ancient Egypt? We have let ourselves be ruled by mentally-ill, morally-bankrupt sociopaths who do nothing but hoard our resources for themselves, like a game of Monopoly.

[@carolr7823]

Lots of drug addicts and bums in Los Angeles.

[@stevemcgowen]

What's the homeless rate in the UK vs, Czech Republic? Oh, that's right, 2.5 times more per 10K people in the Uk than in CR.

[@viciouslady1340]

What I found interesting while in Prague in 2016 in the old city was that the beggars were usually on silent their knees in prayer postion and not aggressively harassing you Its the taxi drivers you had to worry about.

[@Wurwa45]

The taxis in Prague are sooo expensive.😕

[@viciouslady1340]

@Wurwa45 only use Ubers while visiting Never trust a taxi.

[@Flutterbyby]

What are the business billionaires doing to help end poverty, address homelessness and the issues faced by the disabled? They have the money and power to influence and contribute funds without denting their pockets. They’ve benefited from our expenditure, why don’t they do more?

[@karolinasynkova6955]

This is absolutely spot on. Extremely pricise depiction of the current state of affairs. I really hope this video gets attention of local mainstream media and most importantly the state officials.

[@sew_gal7340]

I took a 2 month tour of Europe a few years ago, and i gotta say CR was the most ghetto (and also the most beautiful in some places) that i ever been to...there were a lot of homeless people, lots of ratchet shops, but at the same time the churches and holy sites were pristine and beautiful. LOVED IT! Reminded me a bit of oakland and san francisco...but european if that makes sense

[@tungstenanderson5991]

Wow. Isn't that telling?

[@AntrozLPs]

What other countries have you visited? That would be more telling than comparing CZ to "Europe"

[@sew_gal7340]

@@AntrozLPs Germany, Estonia, France, Spain, Monaco, Belgium, Austria. I took a train from Austria to Poland and wanted to stop by Prague on the way .

[@AntrozLPs]

@@sew_gal7340 Lmao, there we go

[@kfbell11]

@@sew_gal7340that definitely gives this context because those are all much wealthier countries

[@YogaBlissDance]

THE ISSUE YOU TOUCHED ON is OUTSIDE REAL ESTATE SPECULATION, grabbing up housing cause a crush that gets to the lowest levels as each income is pushing to find housing....Portugal the same they had to cut back on some speculaton the locals CANNOT AFFORD 1st world prices...

[@samikay6290]

Germany has the highest rate of homeless people. Please correct.

[@PradedaCech]

Czechia - ouch. Otherwise, I have gotten to know one formerly homeless in Prague and he said that the vast majority of homeless chose this lifestyle because it suits them. There are tons of jobs, but you should be sober and off drugs for that. Same for the shelters. This was a couple of years ago, the situation might have gotten worse since then.

[@musicisagoodvibe]

Yes, that how it is...

[@withpikachu2402]

In Britain they come straight to you when they see you are a tourist. You don't need to go to Prague. Although I wish it was organized, just to know that they are really homeless and that they make sure that they are not drunk and not on drugs. Birmingham, let's start with you

[@annabarr1304]

Guardian filling the space that Vice left

[@art837arm]

Guardian was around long before Vice

[@maestoso47]

@@art837armBut not with this type of journalistic angle.

[@aurelienlux]

Vice has been publishing some rather interesting content again lately (and they've also been uploading older content that was on their website but not on KZbin yet). Although with their bankruptcy proceedings I'm not sure what will happen to their channel (and to the content that is still not on KZbin). But there's definitely other channels providing similar topics and angles now, not only from bigger news outlets.

[@Elfinboots87]

It won’t be for free for long. Guardian.

[@italianlifestyle7911]

I had no idea that such a lovely city as Prague had these kind of problems🤔

[@ShunShufen]

5 minutes on the tram and you see a completely different side of Prague than the Disneyland city centre. Did you seriously not see any of the homeless walking around the centre? Every time I visit Prague I see someone digging through the bins for food.

[@Gosudar]

The city center is indeed lovely, unfortunately it has been run for most of the last 30 years by corrupt right-wing politicians whose main concern was to privatize public property for peanuts, including affordable housing. Skyrocketing rents and housing prices, overtourism (incl. Airbnb plague), car infestation, no cycling infrastructure, etc. are some of the things we have to deal with living in this otherwise lovely city.

[@ad3mn]

@@Gosudarcorrupt left wing would be so much better...

[@tefky7964]

@@ad3mn Usually yes.

[@ad3mn]

@@tefky7964 most of the EU capitals have a leftist mayor, and everything is out of control. Even the US blue states are a mess.

[@davidarundel9739]

Bless the kind people working at those centers and shelters.

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

Sorry, but first: Czech republic for sure does not have the highest rate of homeless people in the Central Europe, and definitely not in Eastern Europe.. And second: Czech rep. has the lowest unemployment rate in the whole EU since 2015, raging between 2-3%, therefore there is nothing easier for them than to get a job.. I'm local, so I know the situation very very good - if there is a homeless, it's due to his inaction, not because of our society... Get your facts straight next time and don't try to blame us!!

[@Leojw10]

Here in England we have more homelessness high crime and problems then the rest of Europe.

[@musicisagoodvibe]

You said that well, exactly

[@matyashansel438]

You're local but I wonder if you're a homeless as well, probably not. Do you think it is that easy to declare you don't have an address when you search for a job? I'd imagine there is quite some stigmatization of employing a homeless person even if the demand for workers is high.

[@viktornovomestsky3999]

@@matyashansel438 Sure I am homeless, it's just a coincidence, that I'm speaking in other language and watching KZbin from my laptop... There is nothing easier for them than to have an address - there are tons of charities, aid centers and so on operating - if they want, they can have a flat within 1 month - the single demand is that they at least cooperate with the rent, if they can not pay it fully, they start to pay off their debts via insolvence and they abandon drog/alcohol using... Then to find a job is just a piece of cake.. It's not because of our society, but due to their laziness, that's all..

[@jaredfontaine2002]

I love Prague. ❤️ Great city! Much cleaner than any city in the US

[@K55365]

That's hardly a challenge these days 😂

[@stevemcgowen]

Probably the cleanest city in Europe its size.

[@ledererova]

Frankly, I was born and live in Prague. I managed to buy my own apartment. I just took a mortgage and paid off early (no help from parents). I live just with two sons and manage financially just fine. I do not smoke nor drink. I think it is unfair to point at the government that they are not doing enough. The main cause of homelessness in Prague and elsewhere is addiction - mainly alcohol. I know people that have elementary education, humble salary, renting and still make the ends meet. And then there are those with addiction that always struggle, unable to hold down the job but yet complaining that the government is not doing enough. I have seen so many people going down the slippery slope loosing everything - jobs, homes, family, friendships, mind, health, productivity, morals. Along this downward spiral everyone was pleading with them to get help and go to rehab. Rehabs are for free in the Czech republic as many times you want. The only condition is you need to want to. But instead they just using and dragging down everyone around including all these non profit organisation personnel to fund their destructive habit.

[@catguy00]

I just got back from a visit to Prague. I saw very few homeless people. Maybe they are hidden?

[@necronecro1265]

Interesting point made. Iwas going to make a comment earlier but wanted to have a more informed opinion before my reply, number one its often the unseen ones that need addressing, to some poverty is a multi euro business, but are these people nationals, and possibly ex forces, these in my opinion are the first who should receive assistance, we all have a growing problem being created throughout Europe, how many of those if conflict arrives will run and do the seek more handouts elsewhere, and who will no matter the cost defend there country when needed, this is the real issue, there are some that will never appreciate what they're giving , like it's a un earned entitlement, but there are the unseen who endure the crap there dealt but will defend regardless, to me i can see the difference between parasites and potential, it's up to society to awake and see whats coming if ignored, think.​@@catguy00

[@musicisagoodvibe]

Absolutely agree. Foreigners should not get easily fooled by the stories...those who want a help get it. There are many people in terain helping homeless and addicts, guess what, they don't want to be helped...all they want is money for the addiction, if you offer them food , many become agressive. So before someone who is not familiar with the life/subject/and mainly the facts should not come easily to conclusion or fall for the "impression".

[@FinUgShiet]

Why doesn't the Czechia just buy enough apartments so they can rent them out to the homeless people (and pay their rent OFC!) untill they can get a job etc. You cannot get homeless ppl off drugs or on mental health services, as long as they're on the streets. The rehabilitation to a life worth living starts with a place to call your own, a roof over your head. This is how we got rid of homeless in Finland. (in practice)

[@boshkebab]

Welcome to Eastern Europe. They don't give a flying F here.

[@tefky7964]

What does Poland has to do with this?

[@tefky7964]

@@boshkebab We aren´t eastern Europe and Finland is more on the east than us.

[@boshkebab]

@@tefky7964 Geographically seen not, no. Bravo! However, in terms of Slavic-ness, you are as Eastern European as it gets. Cope.

[@Dqtube]

It was mentioned in the video because foreign investors have increased the price of real estate. Thousands of smaller flats that could be used for this purpose are offered by Airbnb or similar services. There is a shortage of them in Prague and new properties are being sold to higher bidders.

[@emmajoy831]

I remember watching a BBC programme that re=enacted Victorian practices and voyeuristic poverty tourism of touring the slums was part of it

[@ColtraneTaylor]

I don't remember a BBC program where they don't re-enact racism. The Guardian is great at that too.

[@garycooper9207]

Thank you for this reporter. Really. After Stroke I have difficulties walking and don't really feel like leaving my house because I'm sick of being stared at. For once I could feel normal. Maybe I can over come this..

[@stephdelo3674]

You've got this, Gary! ❤

[@heythave]

I was just watching a video on a ramen seller in Japan. He had transformed his cart into a little hut complete with walls and chairs. So, for those who are homeless and don’t want to use the services, maybe there could be a temporary booth that can be transformed for the night where they can sleep.

[@chickentiddies7451]

It's really really cold here

[@kaisaheikkila]

It is not just Prague though. Here in Brno things are bad too. The only way we can afford a house is because my partner has a median income. People getting minimum wage cannot afford an apartment.

[@sheripacori2097]

this is a world wide problem in most cities.

[@Wurwa45]

I went to Prague in 2018 and it was just beautiful but i did notice there were quite a few really nice shops surrounded by some worn down areas too.

[@G7FX_REVIEWS]

The core root of the problem is tourists from other parts of Europe mostly from the west of Europe flocking to Prague in the bus loads for a cheaper holiday then they would in their own country causing accommodation prices to sky rocket which then local people in Prague no longer can afford the rent because the high demand of tourists wanting accommodation. Even a low budget hostel is no longer affordable and then you have the Ukrainian women and children refugees on top of that need housing causing rents to soar through the roof. I left Prague 2 years ago for this exact reason. It was only a rent crisis every thing else like food prices remained the same. Flew back to my Home country New Zealand because i could no longer bare the increase costs in serviced accommodation when the EU borders re opened after coronavirus lockdown.

[@princebuster93]

@ G7, we have the same problem in the UK with soaring rent increases, but I don’t blame the Tourists, it’s the Government policy and war on people, our indigenous people are treated lower than the boat loads of illegal immigrates coming in to take over, happening in all European countries and America

[@threethrushes]

Londoner in Prague since 2015. Live in Prague 2. The level of homelessness in Prague is nowhere near as bad as it is in London, Kyiv, or Moscow where I lived before. Prague has an incredible quality of life compared to any other city I lived in. I'm grateful to the CR for not booting me out when Brexit happened!

[@HuplesCat]

Shhh. You are ruining the narrative

[@LennonZA]

The enduring financial disparity down the generations has made pointing it out a yawning cliché. Yet, its presence is more evident than ever. In recent years, we've witnessed the largest transfer of wealth unfold right before our eyes, effectively erasing the middle class worldwide and leaving many struggling to maintain basic necessities like shelter and food. The individuals holding senior roles in government and corporations couldn't care less about us and would much rather we shut up, took our 'jabs', and died while pocketing our taxes in the process. The world's failure to come to a standstill and confront this truth, holding those in power accountable, underscores our lack of self-trust, which is exactly how the system continues to perpetuate itself. If there's one man whose work you should read, it's Václav Havel's "The Power of the Powerless." If this were mandatory reading in schools, perhaps we would have a better chance of learning how to resist and fight back.

[@threethrushes]

Mistni Mistnim, Jakodoma and Pragulic are doing exactly what Havel talks about: building parallel structures to the Government.

[@flowermeerkat6827]

How much of homelessness is caused by the rise of short term rentals (aka airbnbs) where flats are bought up by corporations and people are priced out of homes.

[@YaTanya]

When they mention Ukrainian refugees, journalists don't even ask what about 2 years ago. If those homeless have been living on the street for 10-15 years, in their own country where they spoke the language, but then started blaming Ukrainians who only arrived in 2022 and most got jobs ... after learning a new language, while being very stressed after seeing deaths and living under the shelling... Please ask those questions, and don't put a full stop after "I'm homeless because of Ukrainian refugees", because you make your viewers believe it's the reason, but it's not.

[@kidmohair8151]

capitalism requires that there be an underclass to which those at the top of the heap, the aristocrats, can point and say to the people who create their wealth, "that'll be you, if you get it into your head that you are entitled to more"

[@quietstorm483]

Aren’t you tired of that corny lie regarding capitalism? That is so 1910s. Get with this century and move on from that outdated thinking! Nothing “requires” a underclass. That is Marxist bullshit.

[@tomxhardy]

Good that you said central and eastern Europe. From my experience Czechs and Poles hate to be named as Eastern. Actually it's right when you look on the map, it's indeed central Europe.

[@drendisak_]

The region of post-communist countries in Europe is called CEE - Central Eastern Europe

[@trildi]

Yeah, god forbid! Also how dare those effing Ukrainians get occupied and killed, and come here as refugees! Seems even the homeless can be cruel towards other homeless people. Humanity never learns.

[@Prudic1]

Eastern Europe shouldn't be shame.

[@tomxhardy]

@@user-dl7ju no

[@threethrushes]

"Prague is further west than Vienna." - meme

[@eksbocks9438]

4:55 It's the same problem here in the United States as well.

[@techcafe0]

Canada too. Inflation and sky high rents all across the country. It's happening all over the world.

[@andreyb.1835]

@@techcafe0 My Dear Canadian friend! Show me place in Canada where you can"t make 2500-3500 CAD a month and rent a room for 750 CAD? Homelessness is not a result of inflation or housing, it a result of drugs and mental illness.

[@robertvalenta422]

TBH dont know where is Guardian getting its numbers (on anything really). Looking at "List of sovereign states by homeless population" @wiki Czech Republic homeless population is nowhere near top in EU, lower than Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Serbia and many others, actually we are at 1/3 homeless population per capita compared to UK. Legacy media just sucks.

[@islandbirdw]

When I was a kid back in the 70’s, we talked a lot about population growth. Now it’s never discussed. Too many people and unsustainable shelter and food/water all over the world it seems

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

This is what capitalism looks like. The world over. It's grasp is so deep, the effect so profound and the alternative is so utterly incapable of giving any practical hope. This is the sort of dystopia I read in science fi books as a teenager!

[@AS-gz8oe]

Facts. And the benefactors of this economic pyramid scheme grow more entrenched in their positions of financial influence and power each year. We are long passed the point of political checks and balances being able to stop this. Only an outv and out call to arms by the masses would stand any chance of seizing the signs of power from those currently steering u towards an Elysium-esque future where the gap between the global elite and the rest of world is so great, they might as well be on a different planet

[@microbe_rz31]

Well, that's part of the problem. You should go back and re-read the books you resd as a teenager.

[@befeleme]

If you want to see what socialism looks like, go to Cuba, Venezuela or North Korea. Or watch films about socialist China before they re-invented capitalism.

[@helpanimals-]

@@befeleme what an uneducated comment. Tell me you have zero clue about socialism by inserting Cuba, North Korea in your sentence. Go watch Second Thought on youtube, don't be stupid. Socialism can be so much more than North Korea

[@helpanimals-]

you are correct

[@skullandbones1832]

Another day in paradise Phil Collins (1989)

[@YaTanya]

I visited Prague dozens of times, the first time in 2008. Prague had this problem back then.

[@dad102]

Excellent.

[@martingrefen7792]

Take a trip to Dublin,its crazy and getting worse

[@GTA5Player1]

Man, now I want to visit Prague just to go on one of those tours!

[@gorogorotodoro]

They should do this in Vancouver

[@peachmelba1637]

Gosh how sad.... Homeless tours....poverty porn... like something from the Victorian times, gawping at the unfortunate.... this is really quite nasty.

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

What next? Viewing sessions in the local morgue? We already have televised bailiff visits,evictions, people crying in the dark showing the camera crew their empty cupboards and what they do to survive no heating. And we have had years now of shamelessly exploiting children in front of the camera to talk about what it's like to be poor, left out at school, having to keep moving school, not having enough to eat or keep clean or having a mother who thinks becoming a prositute is the answer while the dad and his drug problems has already buggered off. Can't see what more there is left....

[@jonathan0berg]

It's less cruel than making homeless people invisible.

[@matthewjohnathanwarburton8342]

Yeah, I'm sure all these homeless people have beautiful stories to tell where nothing is ever their fault and the mean capitalist machine is what destroyed them. Pfff...

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

I volunteered at museum twice a year, it's a way to get close to what interest me. The volunteers get a free meal, refreshments, anl 2 free museums tickets. I always invite friends to use my free tickets or gave it to the church. Im unhoused, living in my van. In California, there are free phone or tablet with limited data for low income people. This can help with job search or connect to the library for job search.

[@simhthmss]

This is a legitimate job imo. They are adults with agency and it makes them money. These are rational actors not helpless children, they can make an informed decision about doing this job. I used to volunteer at a homeless shelter btw so I am not speaking from ignorance. Jobs are scarce for homeless people and this is a very smart idea. It shows homed people the reality of their world too. It's essentially "give me money and I'll share my life story with you". It's only voyeurism if YOU think you're being let in on something seedy or something that should be hidden. If you don't see it that way, it's just someone sharing their life story with you.

[@maestoso47]

Late stage capitalism strikes again.

[@GarrettReynolds-nt4df]

Why wasn’t the homeless guy brought out to a restaurant for a meal????

[@alexcarter8807]

The idea is to gawk at them, not actually help them.

[@malysev]

how do you know he wasnt? just because it wasnt on the camera? :)

[@GarrettReynolds-nt4df]

@@malysev Now that’s rational!

[@susannecromwell3461]

Why the music?distracting

[@BE-bs8oe]

And let me tell U ...it is freezing there long months in winter...

[@malysev]

not really for many years. its "freezing" for maybe a week or two in total during winter.

[@RichardRunnar]

My brother is homeless on the streets of Germany. Truth be told there’s no reason for anyone to be homeless in Europe. Money and transit is everywhere. Become more entrepreneurial and get your stuff together. The average European Union citizen is lazy and unwilling to better themselves. This goes throughout all of the EU.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Your level of caring for your brother is Christ like.

[@jaredfontaine2002]

Homelessness in Prague.... US says hold my beer...

[@romanpoliakov74]

I opened video to Ken more info on the problem, instead I’ve heard that the Ukrainians to blame. Some alcoholic who’ve been born and raised in Prague blames refugees. This is insane.

[@aavvcc]

The lower the number of social supports available to assist people in keeping their jobs, homes, and health, the higher the rates of homelessness. It is within every government’s interest to help people from falling from middle class. It takes incredibly more resources to bring someone out of poverty than to assist them in maintaining their jobs, homes, and health. The latter takes a lot of effort from many sources, and takes time. Politicians like bandaid solutions because it makes them look good for the next election. Societies need to stop blaming the poor for where they are and why they got there. The view that, “they deserve what they get” is toxic. Poverty is not an active choice for everyone.

[@alexcarter8807]

Really surprising. I thought e. Europe had plenty of housing, crappy housing but housing all the same.

[@Ioulimontium]

If by crappy you mean commie-blocks, they are actually quite nice in the Czech Republic, not much different than the post war blocks you would find in western Europe. 99% of them are renovated.

[@PradedaCech]

Not sure why you would bring up Eastern Europe in a video about Central Europe, but ok.. There is plenty of housing, but not in the central parts of the capital. Just as in most places, really..

[@rizkyadiyanto7922]

​@@Ioulimontiumstill better then sleeping on the street.

[@TiktokBro154]

I thought Europe was a bed of roses

[@RichardRunnar]

It’s not. Europeans lie a lot. My brother is homeless on the streets of stuttgart Germany. I have many cousins homeless too. My aunts and uncles in Ulm, Germany are working at gas stations for low wages. Europe is not special and not superiorly educated. Most Europeans lie. Most Europeans don’t speak multiple languages either. Stop believe internet trolls.

[@m.p.6039]

I can't believe he's so insensitive as not to wait for a man who needs a cane to walk... a man who is paying him wages. No wonder he's jobless and homeless.

[@YogaBlissDance]

Many homeless have mental illness issues.

[@eedragonr]

The man with the cane is doing better than him?

[@ivychua4091]

OMG 😢

[@taurussian4591]

This is so sad and f up.

[@glennhopkins2643]

Disgusting disgraceful and just plain wrong.

[@EnronnSierra]

Sigh, everywhere there are problems. I bet its no better on Mars or Jupiter.

[@Salta-kt3nh]

There should be a ban on foreign property purchase . The same is happening in Melbourne. Wealthy foreign citizens buying up property and leaving it there to appreciate. Take back your country and boot out foreign property speculators

[@letsplaywar]

Prague Capital of the Czech Republic

[@RamGLama5]

wow good❤

[@ms_cartographer]

More countries need to limit investment into properties by large corporations and foreign entities.

[@FantomwithanEff]

Like bro which place is a good place to be homeless?

[@HuplesCat]

Somewhere warm year round!

[@FantomwithanEff]

@@HuplesCat really... Brotha being homeless is already damn so sad.. I mean may be like not ask such shit.. I do get ur point being homeless in cold is worst but still

[@eksbocks9438]

Day Centers are not the solution to homelessness. They're just a stop-gap measure. (Food, showers, laundry, etc.) Homelessness is usually more common in places with less job opportunities, and more Gentrification. Especially when we look at formerly Working Class neighborhoods that are now being price-gouged by Big Business people. Or when they prioritize luxury homes over apartments.

[@serebii666]

Well it doesn't help that even homelessness is a business, when we have people migrating to these cities just so they can beg more effectively. They too take up the services of people in hard life situations.

[@LoverOFhopeANDcompassion]

A czech woman in Boston told me Ukrainian and russian gangs pretty much own most czech country and politics

[@boshkebab]

Thanks for shedding light on this. I find Prague highly overrated and difficult to live in compared to many places. It's incredibly expensive-prices are higher than in Amsterdam, but wages don't match up. Many locals manage mainly because they own inherited properties. While expats with high skills might earn more, their expenses are proportionately higher too. The cost of living isn't just steep, surprisingly, the quality of goods, especially perishables like groceries, is often subpar. You often find produce that would be deemed unsellable in other European countries being sold at high prices here. So, you pay FAR more and get FAR less... And, you'll have to shop nearly every single day. Nothing survives a day in the fridge, especially meats. But, despite these challenges in Prague, other parts of the Czech Republic are truly wonderful and still affordable (and you just buy stuff at the farmers), particularly in the spring and late summer, though it can get a bit too warm for my taste in the peak of summer.

[@serebii666]

" difficult to live in compared to many places." Those places being? Yes Prague is highly demanded as a capital city and center of culture and commerce, but what are you comparing it to? It is still much more livable to comparably important cities around the EU, which is the positive feedback loop making it increasingly unaffordable. But if you want to compare it to the "livability" of Unterkatzendorf, then it's quite the stretch. Brno is now comparable to Prague in demand and therefore unaffordability, and other cities like Liberec now see commuters from Germany since the salaries are better there, while living costs in East Germany or Poland are still depressed. "So, you pay FAR more and get FAR less" By EU statistics, Comparative price levels for food and non-alcoholic beverages show Czech groceries are 10% cheaper than the EU average, comparable to Spain or NL. Germany, Austria, France, Portugal, Slovakia are about 10% above the average. These prices therefore reflect the costs of shipping, and Czechia as a landlocked country sees much of it's food costs eaten by transport, which is why the even poorer Slovakia has even more expensive food. That is a fact of geography and scope of markets. "(and you just buy stuff at the farmers)" see? Transport costs.

[@boshkebab]

@@serebii666 I'm not sure where you've been for the past years, but as mentioned: Prague is literally more expensive than Amsterdam, and wages there are FAR higher... You can rely on statistics all you want, but me, countless other expats and our family members have all been equally baffled by the prices of everything here. And mind you, again, the food is of utterly horrible quality, and to name another example clothes, you pay top 'dollar' for last years collection, or outright outlet collections in the 'flagship' stores in Prague. As for transport and 10%, don't make me laugh... A las, me, and countless of my expat friends have been driven out of this city ± 2 years ago already, so don't mind me!

[@serebii666]

@@boshkebab Prague is not more expensive than Amsterdam. lol what are you on about? Currently buying a median unit in Prague is more unaffordable than in Amsterdam for the local X number of median salaries. But that is because purchasing m2 increase has far outstripped lettable m2. That increase was nowhere near as dramatic. "rely on statistics all you want" I live in Prague fam, and have most of my friend group here, both Czechs and immigrants, including 3rd country nationals. But indeed neither the statistics, nor my circle's experience reflect yours. And that is quite the indictment for your anecdotal experience then. "As for transport and 10%" Transport makes up about 60% of Czech foodstuff prices. Like it's not like we have literal granular reporting, monitoring and interpretation of such data on an EU level... oh wait. "me, and countless of my expat friends" Considering you can't even bring yourself to describe yourself as the immigrants you are, it sounds like you never learned the local language and therefore had to go through interpreters for your day to day, and you would be surprised that you'd end up paying more for not integrating? "so don't mind me!" You still haven't answered my question: livable compared to where exactly???

[@boshkebab]

@@serebii666 I'm too high for this now bro

[@threethrushes]

Not sure what reality you are in, but I'm a foreigner living in Prague since 2015 and the quality of life and affordability beats every other European city I've ever lived in: London, Cambridge, Helsinki, Kyiv, Moscow, St. Petersburg.

[@Curlyblonde]

Stay out of the bars there if you want to stay physically safe and your bank account from being emptied. Their criminal network is active, aggressive, operating in the open and with the knowledge of law enforcement who will not help you.

[@RtaniDean]

2:38, “As we use homeless people.” She said it. For Em PLOY ment Sign con Tract.

[@rozaucja8612]

Listening to them complaining about war refugees being helped leaves a bad taste in my mouth. My fellow Polish people say similar things. It's pretty pathetic to be honest. People flee from war, you chose drugs. Also them being helped is not at your cost, choose a different thing to complain about.

[@user-hs7tg3wp2p]

San Francisco CA USA 🌐🗝️ Hola La Familia Kultura 🌐🗝️

[@user-wq6sz7vt3w]

Guardian ‘reporter’ fancied a trip to Prague. Hence the ‘story’ is set there!

[@notrocketscience1950]

i am starting to like you more guardian... just a few less sexist anti-male nonsense articles, and less pro child abuse transgender nonsense, and more of this caring normal warm hearted work and i will finally be able to justify contributing to you financially, sometimes you do good work like this but the other things are so evil they cancel it out.

[@daddystiel4324]

Looks like America..

[@musicisagoodvibe]

Guardian....who takes it seriously?

[@davidmirandajr]

I literally got shet in my pocket

[@ZadakLeader]

That's why I don't enjoy Prague, it's sad

[@eedragonr]

Extremely interesting. Very well done. Excellent team and organization. And now I must go a very good looking guy is chopping our fig tree in our open private condo garden...

[@Nautiyal4288]

Thanks for 544 subscribers ❤

[@HuplesCat]

If they are male and under 60 Ukraine would hire them.

[@user-tg5vs1xz5x]

My freinds and I all gay, have had holidays on Prague lost count of the times young guys offered us their bodies for not not much money.

[@the_right_nut_4722]

Just lookin' 🤔👀

[@user-ie4tt1xp7j]

Wait, what? How can you be fired from prostitution?

[@smeekle2000]

Taxes.

[@redroselace9545]

Prague???????? Isn't it Europe and relatively normal life not severely poor??? They look 3rd world poverty

[@rosettaeagle1718]

Where are the churches allso

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

Y respeten mi país Argentina 🇦🇷

[@faitht5405]

Chupa Argentina! 🐀

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

Y mi nombre es Joaquin Valeri

[@AWMulholland99]

Well....

[@lornamackay4069]

I wonder what the rate of homelessness was like when Czechoslovakia had a Communist government. I have heard older people say that social services were better under communism.

[@musicisagoodvibe]

Oh common, you can't be serious. Yes, everyone had job because you had to have it otherwise you will end up in jail. There were artifically made jobs and positions....over the 40 years of communism Czechoslovakia was in deep dept. So whoever praises communism is either ill or has been gaining from it in any form whilst other people had been procesuted by government, ended up in jail or had to emigrate. And so many people disapper as well....happy communism...

[@joaquinvaleri7022]

Y ya se que esto es serio

[@lyckantrope]

Great time for Ukrainian citizenship, some people made it (huge money) and moved to EU as Ukrainians refugees...