SLEEPERS

Homelessness existed always and everywhere and St Petersburg today hasn’t become an exception. "Hobos" - it is usual name for untidily dressed, eternally drunk people, collecting bottles and go begging. Almost each citizen has experience of communication with these people at least once in his life. Rambling speech, disorientation in time, paranoiac reflections aloud - all these are the consequence of their hobo status. Only few of them manage to find a constant place to stay at night; they are looking for suitable attics, cellars in a city or even doorways of the houses to sleep there. To sleep directly in the city streets is extremely dangerous - unpredictable Petersburg weather, especially during the winter period, can fatally affect the health of the hobo. Besides, the majority of these people tell that they are frequently beaten by the companies of young men or police officers. Good sound sleep for them is impossible luxury. If they manage to sleep 6 or 7 hours, it’s a big luck for them, more often they can sleep only 3-4 hours.
Due to such regime and permanent drinking of the alcohol of very low quality they are in such condition. To sleep well is more important for human being than even food and water. Absence of sleep even during one night influences the attention and visual perception in a very negative way. And permanent shortage of sleep can cause psychic disorders.
During last several winters St Petersburg charitable organization "Doss house" places a large military tent in the city to host around 70 homeless people for overnight rest. Daily from 9 a.m. till 8 p.m. they can sleep there and receive hot supper and breakfast.