More than 2,300 Homeless People Live in Kosice, with about 150 on Streets

Kosice, 18 October (TASR) - A total of 2,300 homeless people have been identified in Kosice, including 1,304 adults and 996 children who live with their parents in institutions or in inappropriate housing, while approximately 150 people live directly on the streets, according to the results of a coordinated census of homeless people aimed at helping to target assistance in a better way. The largest concentration of homeless people in Kosice is found in the Old Town, the notoriously poor Roma borough of Lunik IX and in the South borough. More than 43 percent of adults were found to be living in substandard housing, such as shacks or sheds. In terms of age, the middle generation was represented the most. Among the homeless, the majority were people living alone and without children. At the same time, 78 percent of homeless people in Kosice have permanent residence in the city. Family and financial problems were the most frequent reasons for the loss of a home. "About 63 percent of people have been homeless for a long time, more than five years. A related finding that also requires further action is that [among those living] in this non-standard and substandard housing, up to 27 percent said that they'd never had stable housing in the past - be it rented or owned accommodation. These are actually people who were born into housing need," researcher at the Institute for Work and Family Research Darina Kvalova told a briefing this week. According to Kosice vice-mayor Lucia Gurbalova, a specific solution can be prepared on the basis of the obtained data, and she also announced the formation of a working group focused on homelessness. "It will be composed of representatives of the city, NGOs that have experience in eliminating homelessness in the city, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office and the city police, which have an irreplaceable role in this," she said. Kosice is the only city in Slovakia in which such a census has been conducted. It was carried out a year ago as part of a two-year European project involving a total of 15 cities in ten European countries. am/df