Moscow, March 15, 2017
Photo: The Moscow Times
As previously reported, the Orthodox “Mercy” service center planned to begin its work helping Moscow’s homeless find employment in January 2017. Moscow is home to between 15 and 50,000 homeless, the majority of whom are “people of working age, many of whom stay on the streets after being cheated by their employers,” said the “Mercy” head of projects for helping the homeless Roman Skorosov.
In its first month and a half of work, about fifty people asked for assistance, ten of whom are already working, including on farms, reports the site of the “Mercy” charity foundation. Social workers at the foundation help the homeless find jobs according to their skills and region of residence, and help them collect the necessary documents. “According to our forecasts, the number of requests will increase,” said the head of the project Roman Skorosov. “Moreover,” he continued, “we hope that by offering assistance with employment, we can help people return home.”
The center for employment of the homeless was opened with the support of Moscow city’s Public Relations Committee, operating under the “Return” program, which focuses on preventing homelessness and the social rehabilitation of the homeless. In 2016 alone, “Mercy” helped 1,200 people return home.
The “Mercy” Orthodox service is one of Russia’s largest charitable organizations, enveloping twenty-six programs of aid to the needy. Tens of thousands of people receive aid from the foundation every year, with 80% of the aid coming from donations.
