“Miloserdie”: “A ban on begging will make our society more cruel”
July 2014
“Banning begging will not the solve problems of poor people, but it can make our society more cruel,” said the Aid to the Homeless project manager from the Orthodox service called “Miloserdie” (“Mercy”) Roman Skorosov, concerning information spread in the press on the initiative of the Moscow Chief Directorate of Internal Affairs to introduce fines for begging. “Major efforts of the state and of public organizations should be directed not to punishment, but to support of people who have no means of subsistence, who became victims of apartment fraud, fraudulent activities, thefts and now have to beg alms.”
“Every day we help homeless people, those who beg alms, and know from our experience that many of them return to normal life,” added Skorosov. At the same time, according to the “Miloserdie” service representative, it should be realized that there are also professional frauds among beggars, who work as part of criminal networks. “Our law-enforcement agencies should struggle precisely with these criminal organizations, but by no means with those who really need help and those who give alms,” he said.
Roman Skorosov recalled the negative Soviet era experience when disabled and homeless people were taken out of big cities by force. “I hope such an inhuman practice will not be repeated in modern-day Russia”.
Reference
There are several projects aiding homeless people in the “Miloserdie” service: the “Miloserdie” bus (a mobile team) and aid to homeless people in Moscow hospitals. The “Miloserdie” service receives homeless people daily, helps them establish connection with their relatives, restore documents, find a way out of difficult situations, and bring them back to normal life. The service helps 1500-2000 people per year. Social workers of the service work at eight Moscow hospitals constantly, monitoring appearance of homeless people in hospital wards. The “Miloserdie” mobile brigade leaves on calls day and night from Monday till Friday and serves all corners of Moscow. Cases of homeless people needing help can be reported any time at: 8-985-76-44-911.
