4 Oct 2012

Salvation Army in PNG alarmed at homelessness in capital

4:37 pm on 4 October 2012

The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea says the government needs to do something to help the more than 2,000 people living on the streets of Port Moresby.

The Salvation Army conducted a study in March and April, finding about 900 adults and more than 1,300 children homeless in Port Moresby, with many being forced into sex work.

Major Rex Johnson says the infrastructure of the community needs to be revitalised.

"We see them when we go out at night with our feeding programmes. They are just making do with pieces of cardboard on the ground, and sleeping on the ground. It's basically a government problem to be able to rebuild that infrastructure to be able to help these people."

Major Rex Johnson says many become homeless because they come to the city to stay with friends or family and end up on the streets, unable to afford a home.