In frosty weather, when it becomes unbearable to resist outside for a long time, people who do not have a roof over their heads can find refuge at the "Accommodation and Orientation Center for the Homeless", located on Haltei Street in the capital city. Some come and go after a warm night, others stay for a few days or more, but there are also those for whom the center has become "Home". Today the center hosts around 75 people, but has an accommodation capacity of 100 places. Up to 150 people can be accommodated if needed.



Help for everyone in need

The center’s director Viacheslav Macovei said that the institution hosts men and women who reached the age of majority, most of them being 40-50 years old. People who have nowhere to live, who are not employed, who have nothing to wear or eat come to the center. Many of them do not have papers.

For almost four years, people with reduced mobility or even immobilized people have been accepted. The center keeps in touch with Hospital No. 4, which provides palliative care to hospitalize those in need.



Although the center is managed by the municipal authorities of Chisinau, people from other localities are also accepted. Where possible, discussions are held with the local authorities and social services to reintegrate the person into the family.

"There are many who have a house, but they left as they could not get on well with the family members," said Vyacheslav Macovei.

Each newcomer to the center is examined by the doctor. If he needs emergency medical help, an ambulance is requested. Those who stay in the center take a bath and put on clean clothes, which are offered to them by the institution. People who need it are helped to obtain IDs and then they can be registered with the family doctor.



Social and medical assistance

People usually stay in the center for a few months, during which time they are helped to return to their family, to find a job in order to be able to control their income independently. But in some cases, the stay lasts longer. Some stay in the center for a year.

Here they receive food, three times a day, are given medical help, legal and psychological assistance. Those who can work are encouraged to do so. 



A library is also available in the center. Many watch movies on laptops, have phones, listen to music.

Nuns from the "Meeting the Lord" Church of the Moldova State University and the Regina Pacis Foundation come to the center and stage various activities. On holidays, gifts are given to them. "They like it a lot when the priest comes and anoints them, gives them ring-shaped bread, candies," said Vyacheslav Macovei.

The director of the center also said that some become dependent on social assistance and do not want to return to an independent life. In such situations, a multidisciplinary commission is convened, which tries to find solutions for each case. The persons are explained what opportunities they have and how they can take them.



Donations and projects

The budget allocated for the needs of the center this year was almost 7 million lei. The money was distributed for the remuneration of the staff, for electricity, gas, water, sewerage, current repair services, etc.

In 2025, the budget will exceed 7 million lei. Vyacheslav Macovei said that the amount was increased taking into account the current energy prices, stressing that savings were also made, but there were also donations from various organizations.

Citizens can also make donations. Neat clothing, even second-hand, bed linen, but also other donations, except for food products, can be brought to the Accommodation and Orientation Center for the Homeless at 2 Haltei St between 8:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m.

These donations will complement the investments made with the support of the municipality.

The director noted that the territory was laid out, the fence was built and repair works were carried out in the dining room. The furniture was changed and the disinfection room was repaired. A European project in the energy field, to heat the exterior walls and the roof, is currently being worked on. Furthermore, the regulation are to be amended to broaden the range of services provided.



No one is helped unwillingly

People come to the center voluntarily. Only those who accept the help are placed at the institution.  They are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If a person is caught sleeping or lying on the street, the suggestion is to call the emergency service "112".

Vyacheslav Macovei does not recommend people to bring vagrant persons to the center on their own, especially by force, because they risk seeing an aggressive behavior.

The institution's employees, in cooperation with the police, carry out raids around the city and search for homeless people. In partnership with the AFI Center for Health and Community Development, they visit places to detect people suffering from tuberculosis. Patients suspected of having such a condition should be accompanied to the doctor's office, where a fluoroscopy procedure is performed. Those with a confirmed diagnosis are given treatment.



Milena Macarciuc, IPN