Lithuania

Association FK Feniksas

FK Feniksas (FC Phoenix) uses the power of football to help people who suffer from substance abuse integrate back into society. Most of their participants are men in alcohol rehabilitation.

They select the players for the Lithuanian Homeless World Cup Team, organise regular training sessions (2-3 times per week) and tournaments, and take part in various international events.

They first took part in the Homeless World Cup in 2006, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Organisation Details

Website

Participants

Football sessions are for men who suffer from substance abuse, but they also organise social events for children.

Locations

Vilnius, Kaunas

Homelessness Statistics

70 000

People waiting for social housing in 2012 (FETANSA, 2014)

5000

People were homeless on any given night in 2012

There are two central problems connected with homelessness in Lithuania: a shortage of cheap and social housing, and alcoholism (Kocai, 2007).

Many homeless people do not fit criteria to be provided shelters since those with tuberculosis or mental illnesses, as well as those who are intoxicated, are not accepted. This often leads to people freezing to death in winter (FEANTSA, 2014).