Bucuresti’s homeless population is rising, facing social rejection and limited state support, a problem seen across Europe.
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Approximately 2,000 homeless adults live on the streets of Bucharest, a figure double that of five years ago and an increasing problem also seen in other European countries. An investigation by HotNews at a social services center revealed various difficulties faced by these individuals. While some cite societal rejection as their biggest struggle, official data from DGASMB attributes the rise to factors like rural migration, family ties being broken, job loss, inability to pay rent, mental health issues, and pre-existing vulnerability. Experts suggest diverse causes, including adults from foster care who lack housing or face social/mental health challenges. The local service center provides daily necessities like warm meals, showers, and clean clothes, but many residents feel the state has failed them. Personal accounts detail struggles with societal judgment, violence on the streets, and difficulties for women regarding safety and hygiene. Legally, Romanian law offers various supports such as guaranteed minimum income, social assistance, and temporary shelter, yet a 2021 report indicates very few people actually access these benefits, often due to lack of identification or mental health barriers. Similar issues exist in Greece, where over 44,000 people are homeless, and bureaucratic hurdles prevent access to services.
