"Sometimes life puts us in situations that we’re not prepared for.”
Krasimir, 55, is originally from a small village in western Bulgaria – and now lives in the capital city, Sofia. Here, there are thousands of homeless people – and very little state provision or support. Rental fraud, relationship breakdown, and unemployment are some of the main reasons people end up homeless.
In Krasimir’s case, his wife was abusive and unfaithful – and Krasimir made the difficult decision to leave her. A court order forced him to leave the children with their mother. He moved to Sofia in the hope of a new beginning.
Krasimir spent his days trying to find work and enough food to eat, and slept at night on construction sites. His hopes were quickly crushed as no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make life work out.
Krasimir said, “Life on the streets takes everything from you, everything positive, and turns every single hope into disappointment. It gives you hopelessness and cold and hunger: such a ravenous hunger that all you can think about is how to survive.”
Krasimir sought out his brother, Stefan. “I knew he lived in a dilapidated room in Sofia. I explained to him about the hard, hungry weeks I’d experienced on the streets of Sofia and the first thing he said to me was, ‘Don't worry brother, there is hope.’
“He told me about a place close to the central railway station where there are some very good people who give out a free lunch to people in need.
“When I saw the long queue of people waiting in the cold, I realised that I wasn’t the only one, that there are other fates like mine.
“At the same time, what touched me deeply wasn’t just the free food, but the warm attitude of the people who were handing it out. They were smiling and welcoming, and they acted as though there’s nothing shameful or unnatural about needing help and food.”
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