The Swiss city of Basel has introduced an offer to their homeless population: They will be paid to go nearly anywhere they want, so long as they never come back.
The Swiss city of Basel has introduced an offer to their homeless population: They will be paid to go nearly anywhere they want, so long as they never come back.
The city of Basel will provide homeless people with a one-way ticket to any destination in Europe. The catch is, they must agree to never return to Switzerland.
The punishment is pretty stiff, as Basel's Department of Justice spokesperson, Toprak Yergu, told 20 Minutes: "If they are checked again, they risk expulsion from our country."
Some major cities like Vaud passed laws banning begging, with others choosing to fine homeless people, then arresting them when they can't pay those fines.
As of April 29, 31 people have chosen to take the travel voucher, with 14 of them being from Romania, 7 from Belgium, 7 from Germany, 2 from Italy, and 1 from France.
In 2018, the estimated homeless population of Basel was 208, so 31 is a rather sizable portion already.
h/t: 20 Minutes