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 minimal state provision or support. Rental fraud, relationship breakdown, and unemployment are some of the main reasons people end up homeless.
In Krasimir's situation, his spouse exhibited abusive and unfaithful behavior, leading him to make the challenging decision to part ways.
A legal mandate required him to entrust the care of the children to their mother. He moved to Sofia in the hope of a new beginning.
Krasimir spent his days searching for employment and enough food to sustain himself. At night, he slept on construction sites. Despite his best efforts, he found his hopes crushed, unable to find success no matter how diligently he worked to make things right.
Krasimir said, "Life on the streets takes everything from you, everything positive, and turns every hope into disappointment. It gives you hopelessness, 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 shabby 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 kind people offer free lunch to those in need."
"When I saw the long queue of people waiting in the cold, I realized that I wasn't alone and others shared a similar fate as mine.
"At the same time, what touched me deeply wasn't just the free food but the warm attitude of the people handing it out. They were smiling and welcoming and acted as though there's nothing shameful or unnatural about needing help and food."
Krasimir had discovered Street Mercy, a project run by Mission Without Borders to support homeless people in Sofia. A hot meal is served every weekday, along with short Bible lessons. It's a place where people can access regular support and find community and friendship.
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