09.06.2026 18:31
62-year-old chemist Ali Bektaş, who lives in Ankara and became homeless after a financial crisis, continues his life by taking free train trips with an 82% disability report. Bektaş, who once worked as a teacher and founded his own company, recounted his struggle for survival on the streets today.
Originally from Kırşehir, 62-year-old Ali Bektaş, a graduate of Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, became homeless after an economic collapse in Ankara.
INSTEAD OF STAYING ON THE STREET, HE TRAVELS BY TRAIN
Bektaş, who once worked as a teacher and later established his own chemistry company in Ankara, lost all his savings due to the financial crisis and began living on the streets.
Bektaş, who has a 82% disability report, uses the transportation opportunities provided by the state to travel to different cities in Turkey by train instead of staying on the streets. Coming to Manisa as part of this, Bektaş said he travels both to rest and to get to know the city.
Describing his experiences, Bektaş said, "After a social accident, my company went bankrupt and I was financially ruined. I started staying on the streets. Part of my staying on the streets is that I can make train journeys with the identity I have thanks to the 82% disability report given to me by the state. I came to Manisa for this reason. I am here both to take a breather and to get to know Manisa."
"THE STATE NEEDS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE"
Stating that homelessness is not a problem unique to Turkey, Bektaş said, "Staying on the street or being homeless is not God's command. It is a reality stemming from people's own mistakes or the adversities they face. This is the case all over the world. It is the same in England and the USA. Our state has provided more opportunities to the disabled and the elderly than European countries and the USA in the last 20 years. We also benefit from these opportunities."
Expressing that a significant portion of people living on the streets struggle with addiction issues, Bektaş said, "Most of the people on the streets are stuck in the quagmire of alcoholism. This also includes drugs. It is not possible to fight these individually. The state needs to be more involved in this issue. There are also people like me who have lost their position in life due to economic and social reasons."
"I BELIEVE IT IS A TEST FROM GOD"
Expressing that he looks at life with hope despite the difficulties he faces, Bektaş said, "We live in a world of tests. We will stay on the street and be tested, we will be rich and be tested, we will be disabled and be tested. All of these are tests. I gave thanks, and I still give thanks. Staying on the street, being hungry, being thirsty is certainly not easy. However, I believe that this is also a test given by God, and I accept it. The most important thing that can be done after this age and with so many illnesses is to accept the situation and take refuge in God."