Down To Earth Haunted by rats, cockroaches and mosquitos, they choose to sleep on the floor of parks, footbridges and base of flyover. These are our street-sleepers. According to figures from the city’s Social Welfare Department, in May 2018 there were 1127 people registered as street-sleepers in 2017/18 financial year, a substantial increase from previous years. Most of them were over 50 years old. They are mostly drug addicts, mentally or physically ill, or ex-prisoners. No wonder they are rejected by most landlords. “I would not queue for public housing, but for the public niches of my cremated body ashes when I expire.” A street-sleeper commented over his destiny. There are also McRefugees who spend their nights in 24-hour McDonald’s. We also witness some innovative design by the street-sleepers in combating the “urban homeless deterrence facilities” (bulky armrests and vertical bars between each seat on the benches to deter people from lying down).