Belarusian programmer in Poland lost his job and now sleeps in a homeless shelter

In Poland, there are so-called "Punkty pomocy dla osób w kryzysie bezdomności" (Points of assistance for people in a homelessness crisis), where homeless people can spend the night, charge their phones, wash themselves and their clothes, and eat for free.

Two years looking for a job. First, "borrowed money, sold things"

A series of unfortunate events happened. Initially, the programmer worked for a Belarusian IT company. Two years ago, the project ended, and he found another company – a product "unicorn." But there, too, layoffs occurred, and the Belarusian was left without work: "I am a mid-frontend developer with five years of experience. This means finding a new job is quite difficult."

"At first, I started having some kind of psychological crisis," Alex admits. "I tried to do my own projects – for example, an AI English tutor, an AI companion. But they brought almost no income.

From time to time, I had interviews, but I didn't send out CVs en masse. As a result, I continued like this for about a year and a half. Now I am also actively sending out CVs for positions related to AI products and automation implementation. However, everywhere they are looking for significant experience."

At first, Alex "borrowed money from acquaintances, sold things." And then he decided to move from Wroclaw to Warsaw – closer to acquaintances and new job opportunities. "But even here I didn't find anything special in six months," he concludes.

Artificial intelligence recommended the "night shelter" in Warsaw

Alex admits that he initially planned to rent a hostel. But "there's no money, nothing to rent accommodation with."

"Well, what to do? I went out, talked to my AI assistant, and it gave me a phone number to call for help," the IT specialist recounts. "I spent the night on the street (it was warm then, about 20 degrees). And then I went to the address the AI gave me – Konwiktorska 3/5.

Павялічыць

I arrived at 8 AM. Waited for half an hour, a social worker came out. I told him that this is the situation – I have nowhere to live, no family.

They asked me where I was registered, I replied that I was in Wroclaw. And this, as it were, is a problem, because if you are registered in Wroclaw, then you should also solve such issues in Wroclaw. At most, they can direct me to a "night shelter."

Here the interlocutor emphasizes that social services ask for documents – "first of all, they are interested in permanent residence and whether I worked in Warsaw." He showed his permanent residence card – as proof of identity. But what to do for those whose card is even expired, he cannot say.

Then, following the advice of the social worker, the Belarusian went to a building called "Noclegownia z ogrzewalnią" (Night Shelter with a Warming Room).

The doors open at seven in the evening, and by then, a queue has already formed outside. If places run out before all applicants are accommodated, one will have to go to two other addresses. "There is a phone number you can call to find out in advance if they have free beds. But you can't reserve," Alex warns.

Life and rules: "Three 'minuses' – and you'll be asked to leave"

The registration begins – you present a document, and your data is entered into the system.

They issue a paper with rules, stating that you cannot consume alcohol (and coming in drunk is also forbidden – there's an alcohol tester at the entrance), cause disturbances, or do other things that bother neighbors. Smoking is allowed on the street according to a schedule, eating only in the kitchen. And, of course, maintaining cleanliness.

If you break the rules, you get a "minus". Three minuses – and you'll be asked to leave.

"Another important detail. If you miss three days in a month, you lose your assigned spot. They will give you 7 days to collect your belongings – otherwise, they will be disposed of. Maybe you can re-register later, but you probably won't be a priority anymore," the Belarusian adds.

Residents sleep in shared dormitories. According to the interlocutor's estimate, a room of about 15 square meters has eight bunk beds, and there are four such rooms on the first floor. Women live on the second floor (but about 80% of the "night shelter" residents are men).

Павялічыць

"There's a locker outside where you leave your backpack," Alex continues. "You can take personal items into the bedroom: toothbrush, toothpaste, phone, charger – because your smartphone should always be charged in case someone calls you. But there's not much space between the beds, literally half a meter to a meter."

Павялічыць

Toilets and showers are communal, about four on each floor. All of these are cleaned in turns by the residents themselves: "You sign up and clean in the morning, around 8, or in the evening, around 10. Eight people come out to clean – about six men and two women."

Every new resident must visit a social worker within seven days. And Alex has already done this: "They don't help with job searching – that's for the employment office (although I'm quite skeptical about such organizations). But they have something like a stand with a computer where you can look for vacancies.

Павялічыць

The social worker helped make it possible for me to live in the "night shelter" for another month. She gave me addresses where I should go to get information."

Neighbors are "non-aggressive", no hierarchy found

"The contingent is quite diverse. It's clear that life has been hard on these people. Some have prison tattoos. But there are also quite ordinary-looking people.

All Poles. I haven't met any Ukrainians or Belarusians yet. Mostly over forty, only a couple of young people. Non-aggressive. I initially thought there would be a hierarchy, but no.

Completely normal, though, I confess, I haven't really talked much with my neighbors yet. Yes, I exchanged a few words during cleaning.

Sometimes it's hard to understand some interlocutors due to dialect or speech peculiarities – even though I know Polish. I have to strain myself. And, I confess, I've never heard so many "kurwa" expressions. They insert it every 2-3 words."

In the "night shelter", posters about the dangers of alcohol are hung everywhere. And, in Alex's opinion, most people end up here precisely because of problems with strong drinks. As for prohibited substances, he believes, "people probably dabble in something similar," despite the ubiquitous cameras: "But I'm not into that, I don't know."

"What's in the kitchen"

Everything is free, and they serve food twice – in the morning and in the evening.

"You come to the kitchen, go to the window, and they give you a plastic container from catering," the Belarusian describes. "For dinner – a side dish, a cutlet or fish, vegetables, salad. In principle, not bad.

Павялічыць

— In the morning, mainly sandwiches. A small piece of butter, about 10 grams, and either vegetables, or a piece of meat, or cottage cheese. You can make tea in the kitchen. There's no coffee, but people bring it with them. You can only eat in the kitchen."

During the day, you can go to a special cafeteria at another address. But there, you'll have to pray before eating.

Plan B – go to "Żabka", but there are nuances

Currently, Alex is going through an interview process for an AI startup focused on business automation – "out of five stages, I'm currently on the second." As a hobby, he generates music – he says it doesn't bring in money, but he "enjoys it."

Plan B is to go to "Żabka" [a popular convenience store chain]. But there are two complications: first, you have to arrive at the "night shelter" by seven in the evening, and if Alex is put on the second shift, he physically won't make it and will have to sleep on the street. Second, he needs to get a "sanepid booklet" (Orzeczenie do celów sanitarno-epidemiologicznych), which requires time, effort, and 400 zlotys (it can also be obtained for 220 zlotys, about 90-50 euros).

"I think that in the future, as automation develops, there will be more and more people in a similar situation," the programmer is convinced. "I was afraid to ask for help for a long time, thinking that no one would help me with anything anymore. I put it off, sold my belongings – but it would have been better to save them and immediately contact social services, and understand how this system works."

Currently, the Belarusian has applied for a "24-hour shelter" – this is social housing where you don't have to leave for the whole day. However, it will be provided in Wroclaw – at the place of his last permanent registration, even though there are more jobs in Warsaw: "They told me the application would be considered for up to 2 months. Although, knowing Wroclaw, it might be longer."

But, Alex concludes, his story is an example that even if you end up on the street, it's not the end of the world.

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