From the streets to belonging: how one man in Bulgaria found hope again

From tragedy to life on the streets

‘‘The hardest thing about being homeless isn’t the hunger. It’s the way everyone around you ignores you as if you’re invisible.

“It’s hard to even feel human.”

Alexander is 42 and has been homeless in Sofia, Bulgaria, for eight years. After his father died, his relationship with his mother and brother broke down and he left home. Shortly afterwards, his mother was killed in a tragic incident involving his brother. Deeply shaken, Alexander struggled to cope with her death. He began drinking and mixing with the wrong crowd, and his life quickly unravelled.

A few months later, while visiting a friend, Alexander was caught up in an argument and was brutally beaten and burned. By then, he was already living on the streets. Unable to find work and struggling with ill health, he began to lose hope that he would ever escape homelessness.

Alexander, 42, suffered burns after an attack.

Trapped in a vicious circle

“I never thought I’d end up homeless,” he said. “One moment you have a family, a home, and a sense of security, and the next you have none of those things. I never thought my life would change so drastically.

Alexander’s days now revolve around finding food, shelter, and safety. Winters in Sofia are especially dangerous, with temperatures dropping to -20C (-4F), and many homeless people do not survive them. Access to medical care is extremely difficult. Alexander suffers from frequent colds, respiratory problems, and pain in his feet, and he lives in constant fear of being threatened, chased away, or having his belongings stolen.

Life-changing hope

“Sadly, hundreds of homeless people sleep on the streets and underpasses of Sofia,” said Hristinka Tsvetkova, coordinator of Street Mercy in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Street Mercy, run by Mission Without Borders, has supported homeless people since 2012 by providing hot meals, clothing, blankets, and emotional support.

“Hot soup and the gospel might seem like simple things, but for people living on the streets, they can be life changing,” Hristinka said.

Alexander’s life began to change when he met the Street Mercy team. “For the first time in years, someone asked me my name and actually listened to me. They didn’t judge me by what I was wearing, they saw me as a person,” Alexander said.

Volunteers are helping Alexander recover lost documents so he can access healthcare and consider temporary shelter. He dreams of having a small room again, with a locking door, clean bedding, and a radio.

The Bulgarian Street Mercy team helping some of the most vulnerable in the winter.

“I’m still working through the effects of some difficult experiences I had with people close to me, and the effects of what happened to my family. But now I have another family – the amazing Mission team.

“Even when all seemed lost, the help and support I received at Street Mercy reminded me there is hope. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but today I have food, someone to talk to, and I know someone who cares. That is enough to keep me going.”

You can help those struggling in the cold of winter winter by supporting our Winter Rescue programs, like our Street Mercy initiative. Hep bring hope, dignity and warmth to some of the most vulnerable today.