Bishkek prepares shelters for homeless people ahead of winter

Bishkek city officials prepared shelter accommodation for up to 150 homeless people for the upcoming winter season.

While the city announced these preparations in November, it did not provide an updated estimate of how many people currently require help. The city manages several facilities to provide housing and support to those without homes. The seasonal shelter in the Oktyabrsky district provides 80 places and will remain open until April 1, 2027.

In the Pervomaysky district, the year-round shelter called Kolomto accommodates between 70 and 100 people each night, even though it only has 70 beds. The Kolomto facility provides one meal a day and medical exams. Additionally, the nonprofit Mercy Center has reserved 40 places for women with children in crisis. These three locations combined offer a total capacity of 190 people. The city faces difficulties in tracking the exact number of homeless residents.

In 2012, officials registered 500 homeless people, but unofficial estimates suggested the number exceeded 3,000. By 2022, City Hall told a council committee that more than 1,300 people were homeless in Bishkek, though they did not explain how they reached that figure. Kolomto staff help residents replace identity documents, find relatives, and arrange long-term care. In 2024, the facility assisted 2,442 people, helping 284 recover identity documents and reuniting 149 people with their families.

The city plans to expand its infrastructure to prevent tragedies like the 2018 cold snap, when 15 people died of hypothermia. A social protection program adopted in December 2025 calls for a 200-place rehabilitation center to help people return to independent living. Meanwhile, neighboring countries have also implemented social programs. In Kazakhstan, the Demeu center in Astana provides 180 beds for long-term stays.

In Uzbekistan, new rules made admission to rehabilitation centers voluntary and removed the requirement for a court order.