Sidewalk sleepers: They have nowhere else to stay while a loved one is in the hospital

Oct 17, 2026 · Sajad Hameed

Originally published by NPR News Read the original

Sidewalk sleepers: They have nowhere else to stay while a loved one is in the hospital

Balraam Singh, 35, eats breakfast with his wife, Nusaa Davii, and their 7-year-old son, Munna, on the pavement outside Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, India. The child is receiving treatment for a heart condition, and the family has been sleeping on the pavement outside the hospital for the past 2

Patients travel miles to be treated at public hospitals in Delhi. Those in need get financial aid for their care. But for overnight accommodations, families are often on their own — and on the street.

(Image credit: Sajad Hameed for NPR)