People with experience of hidden and street homelessness in Russia

Abstract

Among the adult population of Russia, 15% have experience of homelessness, which is about 17.6 million people. Such experience can be directly related to the experience of living on the street, outside of residential premises — street homelessness (5%). There can also be experience of hidden homelessness — forced living with friends, acquaintances, in hostels, etc. for more than two months in a row (14%). One in five who had experience of hidden homelessness also had street experience. Among those who had a street experience, nearly 70% also had an experience of hidden homelessness. Although homelessness is a short-term situation for the majority, in a third of cases the problems linger for several years, which indicates the need to pay more attention to the development of social support for those in homelessness and prevention of such situations. Based on the representative survey “Person, Family, Society — 2023” (N = 9508 people) the socio-economic situation of people with experience of hidden and street homelessness was analyzed. People with experience of homelessness are more likely to lack higher education, be below the poverty line, and have non-standard forms of employment. Housing conditions of people with experience of homelessness are on average worse, they more often live in such types of housing as communal apartments, rooms and one-room apartments. They are less likely to live in their own housing, as well as in the housing of family members, and more likely to rent. The experience of homelessness is closely linked to feeling unhappy and dissatisfied with life. Those who have experience of street homelessness are significantly more likely to use strong alcohol frequently, which may be a consequence of traumatic life experience, both before getting into a situation of homelessness and in the process of experiencing such a situation.