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A student of St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design has developed a project of social protection of homeless people
01 November

The project of Daniil Kuzmin, a student of the University of Industrial Technologies and Design, is another step towards the creation of a federal law that will protect those who are homeless. Daniil took part in the actions of charitable foundations, where he distributed hot lunches and communicated with homeless people. The experience helped him understand why people were in trouble and what they needed. The project won the 2023 St.Petersburg Government Award.


"I worked on the project during my internship at the St.Petersburg Social Policy Committee. I visited the charity organization Nochlezhka, several departments of the center of registration and social services for Russian citizens without a fixed place of residence, took part in the action "Bus of Mercy" of the charity fund "Diakonia". We distributed hot lunches and clean clothes to homeless and poor people. I not only studied the specifics of the work of such organizations, but also communicated with those who found themselves in a difficult life situation. I learned how people get into such a situation, what their needs are, what kind of help they need," says Daniil Kuzmin, a student of the Department of Social Work and Law at Ƶ.

Daniil believes that the most important direction in the protection of homeless people will be the development of a separate federal law that would regulate the coordination of charitable foundations, government agencies and simplify the procedure for obtaining the necessary assistance for those who have lost their homes.

"St.Petersburg has a law on social services for the population. It is a very detailed law explaining the powers and the list of social services of institutions that work with homeless people. Our city has a wonderfully well-established system of work, there is good coordination between services. However, this is not the case throughout Russia. That is why I believe that a single federal law could regulate and expand the powers of specialized institutions, which would increase the protection of our citizens," adds Daniel.

People are faced with financial and legal illiteracy, alcohol and drug addiction, real estate fraud, and social animosity. Raising awareness of where to go for help, restoring documents, obtaining food and clothing is equally important, says the Ƶ student.