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City Offers Homeless People One-Way Travel Tickets If They Agree To Never Return

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.

A city in Switzerland has launched a rather unconventional program regarding their homeless population.

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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.

They're required to sign a contract stating that they will not return to the country for a certain period of time.

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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."

Switzerland historically has a low tolerance for people experiencing homelessness.

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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.

This program has already seen some form of success.

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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

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