A survey confirms the growing numbers of women and seniors among the homeless of Brno. More homeless people seek professional help than in the past. Photo: Casadei Graphics
Brno, Mar 31 (BD) – The results of a census show that 1,657 homeless people live in the city. “This figure is lower than results of the previous census. But the census results may be distorted since only 17% of the 70 commercial accommodation facilities cooperated this year. In the last census, in 2014, 75% out of the 40 commercial accommodation facilities cooperated,” explained Ladislav Ptáček, head of the Social Curators Department in an official press release.
The results revealed that the vast majority of homeless people in Brno are male; however, the data show a growing trend of female homelessness.
While in 2006 the proportion of women in the homeless population in Brno was 27.5%, in 2018 it is over 30%. A very troubling trend is the rising numbers of people over the age of 61 among the homeless, Kateřina Gardoňová from the City of Brno writes in the official press release.
Even though the number of homeless people is still rising, the rise is slower than in the previous period, 2010-2014. The number of people living on the streets has been stabilising over the last four years.
Selected survey results, Source: Department of Social Welfare of the City of Brno, March 2018, p. 7
| Sex/Age group | Number of homeless people |
| Men 18-25 | 82 |
| Men 26-60 | 788 |
| Men 61 and more | 262 |
| Age not provided | 23 |
| Total | 1,155 |
| Women 18-25 | 61 |
| Women 26-60 | 352 |
| Women 61 and more | 67 |
| Age not provided | 22 |
| Total | 502 |
Gardoňová notes that the number of people using some form of assistance and social services is increasing.
The number of homeless people was counted by field workers that carried out a census across the city. The second part of the census consists of data provided by partner organizations where, at the time of data collection, people without a home were being sheltered, such as homeless shelters, hospitals, commercial hostels, and Brno prisons, Gardoňová further explains.
The results of the census serve as an important basis for the planning of social services and social work in the city of Brno and the formation of its social policy.
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