Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, both in regular times and during the coronavirus epidemic. They have a weak immune system, generally do not have a primary care physician or access to information via TV or mobile phone as they do not possess them, and because of their extremely poor financial status and living conditions, they are unable to maintain basic hygiene or follow the recommended preventive measures.

According to the available information, Plan for the accommodation of the homeless people in the Republic of Croatia and Plan for the accommodation of the homeless people in extreme winter conditions for 2019/2020 will be used during the COVID-19 epidemic. It was also suggested that homeless people without the adequate housing or living space during the day be allowed to eat in the soup kitchens, respecting CIPH measures, and they can use the services of examination checkpoints organised in local health centres. Also, in cooperation with the Red Cross City Society, the City of Zagreb provided additional capacities for up to 40 persons at the Kosnica Shelter.

After being informed that a large number of homeless people are still staying in public places and non-residential buildings since the epidemic was proclaimed, Ombudswoman Lora Vidović requested information from the Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy whether additional provisional housing for the homeless, possibly in heated tents or housing containers that were used after the catastrophic floods in 2014, is being planned or is already organised. The same inquiry was also sent to the City of Zagreb and the Red Cross City Society after the strong recent earthquake. She also requested the Ministry of the Interior to inform her about the manner in which it implemented the Decision on the measures of strict restraint of staying on the streets and other public places, as well as the manner in which police officers inform the homeless people about all taken measures, additional accommodation and all other forms of care available to this vulnerable group of citizens during the epidemic.

Living conditions in the open and in earthquake-damaged buildings in public places do not provide sufficient protection for the homeless, nor do they make possible to control the spread of the epidemic among them, which can also reflect on the overall health situation. It is therefore necessary to make additional efforts to take care of this extremely vulnerable group of citizens.

Data on the number of homeless people in Croatia vary, but the Croatian Homeless Network estimates that there are about 2 thousand persons without any roof over their heads, and estimations according to the ETHOS typology, which includes those who have unsafe or inadequate housing, show that this number grows up to 10 thousand.