Homeless Outreach Project
In conjunction with local partner Unity, WJR provides emergency and social reintegration services to the homeless of Kharkov, Ukraine, through the use of street patrols.
A van runs three routes a week, meeting at five specific points where homeless people regularly congregate, reaching a total of 700 beneficiaries in one year.
Once there, the patrol unit provides a range of services including the distribution of food, medical supplies, warm clothes and hygiene products, the provision of emergency assistance, psychological and legal aid and where possible, seeks to reintegrate individuals back into mainstream society.
When it's really cold homeless people go to basements or attics to escape freezing temperatures. But the Homeless Outreach team patrol to find homeless people who need treatment due to frostbitten legs, arms, total body hypothermia. In such cases we call the ambulance. People with frostbite are treated in hospital and the team are in touch with the hospital staff to identify needs and help clients. Some of them we are working to restore their rights - the restoration of passports, pensions and more.
Social workers and volunteers visit the homeless people at the hospital.
When there is a sharp deterioration in weather conditions (snow, frost to minus 30), the Homeless Outreach programme extends the cafe opening hours and increase the number of meals that are delivered to beneficiaries in their homes. Coordinators of the project payspecial attention to beneficiaries who live in remote areas, and volunteers show them where the cafe for a hot meal, but also for the warm and friendly atmosphere.
Mikhail's story
Mikhail Veligotsky became disabled after he had both his feet amputated due to frostbite. His wife left him as a result of his disability, and after getting divorced he also lost his home. Mikhail spent many months in hospital receiving medical treatment, but during this period he lost his personal documentation including his passport. After his release from the hospital he had nowhere to go, and ended up begging on the streets and living at a bus stop near Proletarskaya underground station.
Mikhail was found a street patrol run by WJR's partner organisation in Kharkov, 'Unity'. They fed him and had him recharged into hospital so he could receive further medical treatment. Mikhail is now receiving social support to help him get a new passport issued, receive his pension and assist him in gaining residence at a home for elderly disabled people.
On the 7th February, Mikhail's birthday, he was paid a special visit by members of the street patrol, giving him some additional food and drawing up the paperwork to allow him a permanent place to stay.
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© 2010 World Jewish Relief
Oscar Joseph House, 54 Crewys Road, London, NW2 2AD
Charity Number: 290767 | Tel: +44 (0)20 8736 1250 | info@wjr.org.uk
