Alexandra works in Russia with the NGO Nochlezhka, which helps the homeless. She tells us about the reorganization within Nochlezhka to maintain emergency aid while ensuring the health security of its volunteers and beneficiaries.
At present, Russia has not decreed any official and compulsory confinement, but faced with a situation that can change from one day to the next, many Russians have decided to confine themselves and to opt for teleworking. Our partner Nochlezhka, which helps the homeless in Saint Petersburg and Moscow, has also taken the difficult decision to limit its activities so as not to endanger the beneficiaries and the teams of the association. Nochlezhka has decided to close from 17 March its counselling service, the laundry, showers, the humanitarian aid distribution centre and the psychological groups for the homeless. The concentration of people in these services for the homeless is too high and increases the risk of spreading the virus. However, social workers and lawyers continue to assist people in need by offering telephone consultations.
The association has also maintained its essential activities such as night shelters for homeless people and the distribution of hot meals.
Thus, 5 evenings a week, a night bus continues to distribute hot meals to homeless people. Two tents are also open every evening for people wishing to find warm shelter, and a meal is distributed to them every day morning and evening. Volunteer doctors visit them once a week.
Finally, the reception centre, which can accommodate 40 people, is also open every evening. People who spend the night there can take two hot meals a day: in the morning and in the evening. Here too, volunteer doctors continue to visit twice a week.
The Nochlezhka teams take all possible precautions to ensure that no one is at risk: beneficiaries and workers regularly wash their hands with disinfectant, medical masks are distributed and the tents and reception centre are aired very regularly.
Testimony of Alexandra, staff member of the NGO Nochlezkha