Homelessness is a global issue, affecting individuals in every country. Sudden job loss, financial difficulties, rising rental and housing costs, and expensive medical treatments are just a few of the countless reasons people find themselves without a home. Each case should be assessed individually, as the causes of homelessness are complex and varied.

Contrary to harmful stereotypes, substance abuse is not always the underlying cause. Many people in crisis seek help, but the support systems in place often fail to meet their needs.

The Swedish government is currently facing widespread criticism over a proposal from the centre-right coalition, backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, to introduce a ban on begging. A months-long inquiry will precede the law, assessing the feasibility of a nationwide ban.

During a press conference on Monday, 30 September, Linda Lindberg, leader of the Sweden Democrats, criticised foreign nationals who come to Sweden to "beg outside our shops." She added that Sweden cannot continue to act as "Europe’s conscience."

A Christian social organisation for people in crisis of homelessness, Stockholms Stadsmission, has unequivocally condemned the idea of a ban on begging.

"To ban begging, or to require permission to beg, is just shifting the problem in a futile attempt to outlaw poverty. Instead, we believe that this group’s vulnerability can be reduced through structural poverty reduction and work against discrimination – both in home countries and within the EU. It is long-term work. In the meantime, society needs to take responsibility, for example, offering paths into the workplace and housing market and in that way reduce the social vulnerability of these people," the organisation's spokeswoman, Fanny Siltberg, told The Guardian.

Aida Samani, deputy legal director of the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders, expressed a similar opinion.

"It is remarkable that the government is prioritising this in a situation that they themselves describe as a crisis of organised and violent crime. Then there is the question of the lawfulness of a ban. As far as I can see, a national ban on begging would most likely not be lawful," Samani told The Guardian.

According to Samani, a ban would violate the right to a private life and freedom of expression, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Source: The Guardian