By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — The condition of Kaohsiung’s unhoused population rarely makes headlines. Their numbers may be small compared with those in many Western cities of similar size, but they are part of the city’s social landscape, and many understandably gravitate toward transit stations for shelter, relative safety, and access to public restrooms.
Complaints, however, are mounting over conditions at Fongshan Transfer Station (鳳山轉運站), where passengers say homeless people frequently occupy seating and open areas, leaving behind belongings, garbage, and strong odors that make the site difficult to use.
UDN reports that the station, connected to MRT Dadong Station (捷運大東站) and located beside the Dadong Arts Center (大東文化藝術中心), is one of Kaohsiung’s six major transfer hubs. It currently serves eight bus and passenger transport routes, providing connections for areas including Daliao (大寮), Linyuan (林園), and Dashu (大樹). According to local media reporting, passengers have complained of public drinking, gambling, loitering, and unsanitary conditions around the site.
One traveler said Japanese visitors were shocked by the scene. A parent said she once saw two homeless men bathing in a restroom sink at nearby Dadong Park (大東公園), and alleged that after an unwanted interaction, one later tried to ram her with a bicycle. Students also told local media that groups of people can often be seen sleeping on the ground near the station at night.
Similar complaints have also been reported at Siaogang Transfer Station (小港轉運站), Cishan Transfer Station (旗山轉運站), and the High Speed Rail transfer area in Zuoying (左營), according to the report.
The Kaohsiung City Social Affairs Bureau said people staying around the station have not agreed to placement or shelter services, meaning authorities cannot forcibly remove or place them. Fongshan Precinct (鳳山分局) said patrols would be stepped up while continuing to balance public-order enforcement with referrals to social welfare services.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Hui-wen (陳慧文) said the station needs better lighting and cleaning, and argued that the city should review whether additional daytime relocation points are needed for unhoused residents. Councilor Lin Chih-hung (林智鴻) said the current model of local food distribution should also be reviewed, including whether meals should be provided at other locations instead.
The Social Affairs Bureau said its homeless services center has increased nighttime outreach at the transfer station and can offer temporary shelter during cold spells or other special circumstances. The Transportation Bureau said the station is cleaned twice daily, with additional cleaning arranged when needed. It added that one round of on-site clutter removal has already been carried out this year, with another scheduled soon.
