site.btaHomeless People in Sofia Significantly Fewer than in Other European Cities of Similar Population Size, Study Shows

There are significantly fewer homeless people in Sofia than in other major European cities of similar population size, Sofia Deputy Mayor Nadezhda Bacheva said during a press conference here on Monday. She presented the results of a census of homeless people in Bulgaria, together with Assoc. Prof. Stoyanka Cherkezova from the Institute for Population and Human Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

"Together with Sofia Municipality, we joined forces to conduct this first-of-its-kind census," Cherkezova said, pointing out that it is not just a field census, but also a profiling of people on the streets. The goal is greater adequacy in the development of policies for caring for the homeless, she noted, adding that as part of the homeless census, clothes, shoes, and food were provided.

The study was part of an international project, funded by the European Commission, with Sofia being the first Bulgarian city to join, Bacheva emphasized, adding that the project covered 35 cities in Europe. The coordinator of the project is the University of Leuven in Belgium. According to the census, which took place between October 20 and 26, the homeless in Lyon are 12 times more than in Sofia, in Brussels - 11 times more, in Budapest - five times more and in Bucharest - three times more, Bacheva summarized. 

Bacheva stressed that it is very difficult to help homeless people who do not seek help. "There is no way to force them to be accommodated in crisis centres or to provide them with support," she commented. Three homeless centres with a capacity for over 500 people operate in Sofia Municipality, the Deputy Mayor said, adding that they are 80% full. An exact number of homeless people in Sofia cannot be given because the data changes daily, Bacheva emphasized and assured that additional places will be opened if the centres are full.

From December to March, food and hot tea will be distributed every day to people who need it during the coldest part of the year in Sofia, Bacheva noted. She pointed out that thanks to changes in the legislation, Sofia Municipality provides a business address to every homeless person so that they can get personal documents, adding that a large percentage of people have taken advantage of this opportunity.