The exact number of people in the situation homelessness it is not known in Serbia. As these people usually do not have personal documents, they are administratively invisible. To Strategy social protection, which would deal with this issue, has been waiting for almost a decade. According to the estimates of humanitarian organizations in Serbia, about 20.000 people found themselves in this situation.
On the eve of the International Day against Homelessness, which is celebrated on October 10, the "Network for the Fight against Homelessness" called on the competent institutions to react and take concrete steps in order to prevent this problem.
The situation in Serbia
The Humanitarian Organization "ADRA" states that at least 4.000 homeless people live in Belgrade alone.
Photo: Pexels/CottonbroThe International Day Against Homelessness is celebrated on October 10
People in a situation of homelessness can seek shelter in shelters for adults and the elderly. There are 12 of them in the country, mostly in larger cities and mostly full. The support that people can get is often limited to the help of local humanitarian initiatives and non-governmental organizations.
"ADRA" states that homelessness is not a matter of choice, and that a number of unfavorable life circumstances lead to it. They point out that the reasons are almost always the absence of support from family, society and the state.
The "Network for Combating Homelessness", of which "ADRA" is a member, gathers organizations and collectives, which throughout Serbia provide support to people in situations of homelessness and housing exclusion, as well as to people who are at risk of homelessness.
"Homelessness is not only a question of a roof over one's head. It is a question of adequate housing, the fight against poverty, access to health and social protection, the availability of services and the realization of basic human rights", the Network states.
10X10X10X10 Initiative
The network sent 10 requests through the "10X10X10X10 Initiative" to the competent ministries and institutions in Novi Sad and Belgrade.
Among them is the creation of an umbrella state policy that will enable the increase of the public housing fund and affordable models of housing support. There is also the creation of an umbrella state policy for the fight against poverty, without which, they say, there is no serious fight against homelessness.
Photo: Tanjug / Vladimir Šporčić'Homelessness is not just a matter of having a roof over your head'
"Adequate support that makes a real difference must be available to people who, in addition to poverty, are also faced with discrimination and various forms of social exclusion, that is, support based on needs. The availability of health and social protection, education and other services of public importance must be part of that response," the announcement states.
The requirements are that publicly owned spaces be used for the development of different models of housing support and integrated services, improve the conditions in existing social protection services, ensure their sustainability and thereby enable safety, preservation of dignity, privacy and adequate support for all people who use them.
They are also asking for free health insurance and the right to a free meal, without special conditions and administrative barriers, to be prescribed for people in a situation of homelessness.
They also emphasize the importance of not using discriminatory language in public speeches, so that people are not reduced to their current life situation. They add that this practice contributes to stereotypes and additional stigmatization.
"We remind you that the fight against homelessness begins long before a person becomes homeless. It begins with the fight against poverty, good public policies, creating conditions so that homelessness does not occur and providing support when it is needed," the Network's announcement states.
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