To cope with the steadily growing number of homeless people, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will build seven more shelters in fiscal 2002, raising to 12 the number of facilities the government will build in two years.
The ministry says the 12 shelters will be able to accommodate about 2,700 homeless people nationwide.
With unemployment in Japan at a record 5 percent, the government is worried that those who lose their jobs will also lose their homes.