Zagreb homelessness crisis highlighted as city shelters reach just 115 beds

A report on Zagreb notes that the city’s official shelter capacity in the Velika Kosnica and Sesvete‑Kraljevec locations totals only 115 beds, far below the growing number of people sleeping on the streets. Critics point to the municipal administration led by Mayor Tomislav Tomašević for turning away from the problem, while vulnerable groups – including women fleeing domestic violence and veterans who carry faded service cards – are left with few options. The article emphasizes that the lack of accommodation forces many to wait in line for the sole hot meal, despite legal bans on begging and the absence of sufficient support from the Ministry of Veterans.

The piece argues that politicians, once accessible before elections, have become detached from everyday hardships, comparing Zagreb’s approach unfavourably to practices in some U.S. cities where officials regularly engage with the homeless to understand their needs.