Moscow, April 2, 2019
Photo: diaconia.ru
The Russian Orthodox Church has opened a new service for the homeless in Moscow. The Church’s humanitarian Mercy service opened the Hangar of Salvation in 2013—a heated tent for the homeless to stay in during the day, where they can shower, eat, and change their clothes.
Now the hangar’s set of services has expanded to include a free laundromat for the use of the homeless, reports the Russian Church’s Synodal Department for Charity and Social Services.
The opening of the laundromat was led by the head of the Mercy service and Chairman of the Synodal Department for Charity His Grace Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevsky.
“These unfortunate people need help—they’re in a very difficult position and not always to blame for what happened to them,” Bp. Panteleimon said. “We’re opening a laundromat so the homeless won’t have to throw away dirty clothes and beg for new clothes, but could wash what they wear. The opening of the laundromat is a very important step in our work on the socialization of the homeless. And we hope that this work will be continued.”
Photo: diaconia.ru
The laundry facilities are available for up to 20 people per day.
The Hangar of Salvation is one of the largest homeless centers in Moscow, attended by about 100 homeless people a day, where they can receive help from psychologists, addiction specialists, and social workers who assist in restoring necessary legal documents, purchasing tickets home, contacting relatives, and helping them to find employment.
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