A "Yurt of kindness" with 25 places for feeding the homeless has been built in the capital of the Republic of Tyva, the city of Kyzyl. The construction of the yurt cafe was organized by the social department of the Kyzyl Diocese. Its opening is scheduled for mid-September.
"About a year ago, we had an idea to create a place in our city, in the center of the diocese, where the homeless of Kyzyl could be fed in more or less comfortable conditions. The city has allocated us a good territory in the center of Kyzyl, and we have set up a yurt there, and we plan to open it in mid—September this year," said Hierarch Dimitry (Shishkin), head of the social department of the Kyzyl Diocese.
According to Father Dimitri, the idea of the Yurt of Kindness project arose due to the lack of comfortable conditions for free feeding of the homeless in winter, when the temperature outside drops below 40-50 degrees. In the cold, it is also difficult to communicate with homeless people in order to figure out how to help them, solve their problems, arrange for shelters, nursing homes and support.
Currently, with the participation of the Mayor's office, the installation of underfloor heating necessary for its operation in winter is being completed in the yurt. So far, in the summer, people are being fed next to the yurt.
"Now we feed three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. But I hope that it will continue to be four, five, and seven times. We plan to increase the days and feeding schedules," added Father Dimitri.
In addition, construction of a social building has begun next to the yurt cafe. A social center and a paramedic's station for the initial examination of patients are provided inside it. There will also be a small hotel in the building for women with children who find themselves in a difficult life situation. A chapel dedicated to St. Luke of Crimea will also be built on the territory of the church designated for the project.
The project is funded by philanthropists, as well as by funds raised on the online platform "Let's Help". Thanks to the collection on the platform, furniture for the yurt, a fence, a gate, and household appliances were purchased.
The Yurt of Goodness is located at 335 Rabochaya Street, Kyzyl.