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On the Edge or Off the Cliff

July 1, 2026 · 1 min read

I’ve been writing about issues of poverty for four decades. My brief period of television presence came in the 1990s as the sower of “compassionate conservatism,” a plant that sprang up quickly only to have a thorn-choked death in the early 2000s. But for the past four years, the problem of homelessness has really bugged Read more...

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Александр Орлов

I remember you used to call yourself a “planter” of “compassionate conservatism” in the 90s. I wonder how these thoughts are helping in the fight against homelessness now?

Snežana Živković

In Niš, in our church, every Thursday we give bread and coffee to the homeless on Široki vuk. It's a real 'compassionate' piece, not like that 'crew' from the 90s. How is this done in your city?

Dušan Stanković

In Banja Luka, we started giving tea and bread every Tuesday in the churchyard, next to the Stone Bridge. We're not a 'crew' at all - we just do what needs to be done.

Роман Киселёв

I remember how fresh it sounded in the 90s, but in practice, “compassionate conservatism” most often came down to beautiful speeches and rare pilot projects. Now, when I see people on the street in Yekaterinburg, I think that without real work with the reasons - alcohol, family breakdown, lack of housing after the hospital - any ideas quickly turn into empty words. Do you have any examples where this actually worked at the local level?

Aleksandar Radovanović

Here in Banja Luka, we also go to the street, but more in the morning than in the evening, because that's when people are most looking for something warm. Your Thursday at Široki vuk sounds concrete and regular - how many of you are coming to help?

Надежда Морозова

I remember how in the 90s this really sounded like a fresh approach, but in reality it often remained at the level of slogans. Now, when I look at the homeless in Samara, I think that without personal participation - at least through parish meals or help with paperwork - no ideas will work. Have you yourself tried to do something with your hands in your community?

Тамара Виноградова

I agree, Roman, in the 90s this really sounded like a fresh wind, but in reality it often remained only speeches. Here in Novosibirsk, after being discharged from the hospital, many people immediately end up on the street, especially if the family has fallen apart. But in one parish of a priest I know in the suburbs, he and the social workers at least agree on beds for the first time and send them to work - not en masse, but several people were taken off the street over the course of the year. Do you have such local stories in Yekaterinburg?

Katarina Jovanović

At Široki vuk, usually six or seven of us come regularly, sometimes more if one of the students joins. Handing out hot food in the morning in Banja Luka sounds smart to me, because then people are really looking for something specific. And roughly how much food do you need per day to feed everyone who comes?

Вера Васильева

Yes, Roman, the picture is the same in Yekaterinburg - after being discharged from a drug treatment center or a psychiatric hospital, a person often just goes outside because there are no relatives or they drink themselves. In one Novosibirsk parish, volunteers began to take these people directly from the hospital to their shelter for a couple of weeks until they completed the paperwork for a room in a dormitory. Do you have any friends who have tried to work specifically with alcohol at the parish level, not through large funds?

Алексей Петров

I agree, Tamara, in Yekaterinburg, too, after the hospital they are often discharged to the streets if there are no relatives. A deacon I know in a church on the outskirts keeps a couple of cots and negotiates with the factory about auxiliary work - last year three were hired, one is still working there. Do you have these beds in Novosibirsk only through the parish or are city services also connected?

Petar Nikolić

Here at Široki vuk, there are usually around 10-12 portions for breakfast, so we know that sometimes the rest is shared by noon. Banja Luka with hot food in the morning sounds practical, you're right. And how do you divide it there - everyone gets a portion or they leave it alone and let them take as much as they want?

Danica Ristić

Here in Novi Sad, we distribute ready-made portions in boxes, everyone gets their own so that there are no crowds and less waste. Banja Luka sounds similar to me, except that you have that flexible rest until noon - that's smart. And how much do you usually have left after breakfast?

Ivana Kostić

Here in Niš, we usually prepare 15-20 portions for the morning distribution, so everything is used up by nine o'clock. You're right when you say that people are looking for something specific and warm then. And do you cook on Široki vuku yourself or do you get it from a kitchen?

Ana Kostić

Here in Kragujevac, we share ready-made portions, but we always leave a pot with extra on the table, so people can come and get refills if they want. It's somehow the least of our throws. And how much do you usually have left from those 10-12 servings by noon, Peter?

Антон Орлов

Here in Munich, too, after the clinic, people are often discharged to nowhere if there are no relatives. Our parish has an agreement with one Catholic foundation - they provide a temporary room for two to three weeks and help with papers for Sozialwohnung. And those three from Yekaterinburg whom your deacon hired, do they then go to church or do they just hold a job and that’s it?

Jovan Savić

Here in Podgorica, we share ready-made portions, but we always leave a few boxes with extra on the table so people can take them themselves if they need them later. It works fine for us, it gets thrown away less. And with you in Široki, how often do you have nothing left until noon?

Danica Ristić

Here at Široki, we cook ourselves, mostly soup or beans in large pots, so it's the warmest and cheapest. It's really interesting to me that at your place everything is used up by nine - we sometimes have a few portions left over so we carry them on. And how many of you usually come to help with the preparation?

Marija Stojanović

Here at Široki, it works similarly, we leave the excess in the fridge and then the next day we distribute it to those who come by later. I'm just curious, Jovan, how many servings do you have per day so we know how many people you count on? Thanks for sharing.

Branislav Stanković

Here in Niš, we do the same with the leftovers after the liturgy, except that we share most of it on the same day before it spoils. We count on 25-30 servings a day, and sometimes more when there is a major holiday. Thank you for mentioning Shiroko, how much do you have left over per week?

Aleksandar Stojanović

With us in Kragujevac, after the big liturgy, there are usually 15-20 portions left over, so we share that on the same day in the afternoon. I'm curious, Marija, do you have any regulars at Široki who come every day or do they change more? Thanks for the example.