Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

According to the 2011 Census, 445 primary homeless persons live in Serbia, including persons living in the open (e.g. in parks), and approximately 17,800 secondary homeless persons, housed in non-hygienic settlements and facilities inhabited out of necessity, as noted by the “Beskućnici” publication (“The Homeless”) presented on 10 October in Belgrade. The greatest number of homeless persons was registered in Belgrade (39%), the least in Vojvodina (14%), while men and women are equally represented. According to the author of the publication, Mirjana Bobić, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, the study was created with the aim of engaging public attention with the issue of homelessness and to stimulate the media, the non-governmental sector and decision makers towards joint action in resolving and preventing this problem.

Homeless persons mostly live in urban areas (63% of the total number), while a typical homeless person is a man between 55 and 59 years of age, poorly educated, unemployed or employed in a low-paying occupation, frequently addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling. Among the group of primary homeless the largest number is middle-aged – men between 55 and 59 of age and women of 45 to 49 of age, while among the secondary homeless the most numerous are the young, with 23% up to 14 years of age. As noted, one in five homeless persons are between 45 and 59 years of age, and one in ten are over 70 years of age.

Source: www.euractiv.rs