Alexander Defies all the Odds: A Resilient Homeless Russian Man
By Stephen Wilson, one of our reporters abroad
StreetSense was fortunate enough to befriend and interview a homeless invalid who was begging on the streets of Moscow. Alexander had no hesitation in frankly speaking about why he was on the streets and how he manages to get by. Despite so many unpleasant experiences, he comes across as a very warm, compassionate, and caring person.
Alexander is just one of many people who lost their apartment in Moscow to fraud. {Past surveys by Nochlezhka, the main charity and shelter in Moscow) estimate that from 8.52% {2021} to 6% {2022} persons can be the victims of real estate fraudsters.
It stops raining. The dark overcast grey sky recedes. Those ominous clouds start drifting away. Then the sky turns into a clear transparent blue where the sun looms out of nowhere. The sudden transformation strikes me as a miracle. It's so changeable here.
It reminds me of Scottish weather where anything can abruptly change. It rains so much in Scotland we have countless names to describe rain…
such as 'it's pissing down’ and 'leaking' and 'dreaching' and 'doirt'.
I decided to go for a walk around the district of Sokol, located in the north-east of Moscow. I was next walking past the fire station, theater, and church.
Suddenly, I encountered a second miracle. That is how a homeless invalid called Alexander is still alive! Here is the story.
I first noticed a person sitting on a bench holding a cardboard placard with the words written on it asking, “I need money for food.” I gave him a few rubles and asked if I could pose some questions to him and interview him. I began asking him “How are you?” He answered, “Not good. My health is bad. I'm an invalid.” Though his appearance is immaculate in the sense of being well dressed, clean, and looking very young his hushed voice betrays fragility. He spoke back in a low tone of voice in clipped sentences as if whispering to me.
Noticing I spoke Russian with a strong Scottish accent he asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Glasgow, in Scotland. I asked him “Why are you begging?” He frankly answered, “I'm on the streets.”
I asked him “How did you become homeless?” Alexander told me “I lost my apartment to fraud. Con artists stole my apartment by getting me to sign some documents.” So of course I asked him, “Is it possible to take those con-artists to court and get your apartment back?”
He sighed and shook his head, as if to say it is impossible. The legal system does not go out a long way to defending the homeless. He also told me he has no passport. Alexander, who is 34, is by trade a plumber but is now an invalid who suffers from pneumonia. He therefore cannot work. I ask him whether his condition makes it difficult to speak and he answers, “Yes it does.” “Do you receive medical treatment?” Alexander answered, “Yes, I get medical treatment. I'm not refused medical assistance. Many people help me here.” He told me how his breathing gets worse just by standing up or sitting down. Lying down is the best posture, but being a homeless person means you are often on your feet all the time.
He told me “The church gives me a lot of help such as food, clothes, and money. I can drop into the church to attend a service and light a candle.” It is clear that he retains a strong belief in God. “Can you wash yourself and your clothes?” He pointed his finger to his clothes, saying. “As you see I can get clean clothes from people. I also have an address where I can wash myself.”
He writes down the address and hands it to me. Given my unkempt appearance, maybe he has concluded I need to drop in there some time myself!
Alexander told me he has been homeless for just 3 years. He told me “Someone stabbed me here.” He showed me a scar just below his throat. He thinks that it might have been drug addicts who had savagely attacked him. I was amazed that he was still alive! It is a stark reminder of how exposed the homeless are to horrendous attacks.
What struck me was the absence of bitterness and anger from Alexander. Despite what he has been through he remains quite upbeat about things. He claimed the mayor has improved things in Moscow.
I asked him “Do the fire-engines switch on their sirens to waken you up while you are sleeping? That is what they do in Chicago!”
He looks at me in sheer disbelief, and he replied, “Russian firefighters don't do this. Why? Why do they do this in Chicago? What is the point of doing that?”
He reminded me that in fact members of a nearby church go out of their way to help the homeless in that quarter of Moscow.
He next mentioned to me “I must go and get something to eat.” He then warmly embraces me, and we wish each other good health.
.
.
For more about the StreetSense piece on the Chicago firemen waking up the homeless in the early hours, please see our piece: https://streetsense.substack.com/p/firemen-misbehaving-at-broadway-and