Over 15,000 Homeless People in Romania
It was estimated that during 2020 there were over 15,000 homeless people in Romania.
The biggest hurdle for these people is getting the correct identity papers, without these it’s impossible to get state support, access to the national health system or financial support. It also makes the prospects of finding work and somewhere to live very difficult.
Raul is a social worker with many years’ experience. He first partnered with Teams4U to distribute shoeboxes in Western Romania. In 2018, this partnership grew to become a programme supporting people without homes to find housing. His team now includes a doctor, social worker and medical assistant.
Finding housing is a long process. It involves gaining trust, finding a home, a job and family. For Raul and his team, it starts with the Friends Hub. This is space that members of the homeless community can come to four times a week to receive a hot meal, hot drinks and snacks. In addition, the team provide emotional and professional support.
In Raul’s words, “For most of them, the Friends Hub where we meet becomes a second home. Here they have social assistance, representation before the authorities, connection to family and medicine. [Initially] we cover immediate and urgent basic needs: food, medical assistance, clothing, shoes. After we manage to cover these needs, we move on to applying for identity documents, social insurance and a job.” Help obtaining identity papers is crucial since over 80% of people without housing do not have the correct identity papers, without which they cannot access state support.
It was estimated that during 2020 there were over 15,000 homeless people in Romania. For next steps, Raul hopes to open a winter nights shelter so that people have somewhere to sleep overnight and feel better during the day. This would improve people’s wellbeing and help them to establish their lives off the streets.
ordinary people can make abig difference
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4 years ago Simona and her extended family lived outdoors, they had no identity papers and so weren’t able to access any support. Raul arranged a shipping container for Simona’s daughter Ioana and her 2 children Bianca and Radica, which now provides somewhere warm and safe to live.
Raul was also able to help her family get the correct identity papers so they may access state health support. Raul not only provides warm clothing and food parcels but also helps the family with trips to the doctors.
Narcisa is 7 years old, she was thrilled to receive a Teams4U shoebox, her dream is to be able to go to school “I want to learn to read and write”.
Donate £20
£20 per month will provide food in the form of hot drinks, snacks and canned food 4 times a week and a hot meal once a week.
Donate £50
£50 per month will allow Raul to continue supporting homeless people in more remote areas of Romania.
How Can you help?
Just £20 a month can provide support through the work Raul does in Oradea in Western Romania. In over 80% of homeless cases they do not have correct identity papers that without which there can be no access to state support. Raul accompanies them to medical appointments and to government departments whilst they go through the process of securing the right identity papers.
Members of the Homeless community can come to ‘The Hub’ 4 times a week to receive a hot meal, hot drinks and snacks. In addition Raul provides emotional and professional support as he is a qualified Social Worker with many years of experience.
Raul’s dream is to one day provide a secure homeless Night Shelter where vulnerable women can stay, get a hot meal and a shower.
Donate £20
£20 per month will provide food in the form of hot drinks, snacks and canned food 4 times a week and a hot meal once a week.
Donate £50
£50 per month will allow Raul to continue supporting homeless people in more remote areas of Romania.