Stockholm Central Station. Photo: Hilale Nizami
The picture says it all.
Many homeless people sleep at the central stations in Stockholm and Malmö every night.
But how did they end up here and how does their day begin, ending on a hard bench?
Stockholm
Midnight at Stockholm Central Station. Many homeless people sleep here at night.
”We are at the bottom, we are not prioritized in society. Look around here – society has not succeeded,” says Mikael Ljungmark, one of them. Mikael and the other homeless people sit close together, trying to keep warm and sleep for a while. They wait for the clock to approach 2 AM, when they have to move on to the night buses. Homeless people are not allowed to spend the night at the central station, even if they sit up, they are awakened by the guards.
Peter has developed problems with his legs because of how he sleeps.
”When you sleep sitting up, your legs swell. That is the main illness of homeless people, swollen legs and the risk of blood clots,” says Peter Andersson.
Peter and his friend Johan buy travel cards every month and ride the night buses in Stockholm and sometimes to Arlanda. During the trip, they sometimes get a few hours of sleep, sometimes none at all.
It’s almost 2 AM and Peter and Johan are getting ready to leave. Photo: Hilale Nizami
Mikael Ljungmark takes a long walk every night. He used to work as a truck driver and had a normal and peaceful life with a wife and children. A few years after their divorce, he ended up on the street and lost everything, his family and home. Mikael has been doing an internship at a cafeteria for four years, and now he works as a temporary employee three days a week.
”Not all homeless people can handle having an apartment either, there are addicts. But those who can handle it should get help. That’s my personal opinion,” he says.
We pass City Hall, Sweden’s largest police station, and many other places. We talk about politics, family, and the future. Mikael wants a steady job, then he can get an apartment and see his child more often.
We pass two people lying on the ground, sleeping.
”Employers want you to have a residence, they find it difficult to do the job without it. The social services require you to have a job to get help with housing.”
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Mikael has been doing an internship at a café for several years, now he works as a temporary employee three days a week. 1/2
Photo: Hilale Nizami
After a few kilometers, we are back, but now we have to sit inside the City Terminal. Inside, we are greeted by classical music, I Molto Allegro. The same music is played every night until 6 AM. Mikael speaks softly so as not to wake the others.
A homeless woman tries to sleep sitting up but keeps waking up, almost falling every time she falls asleep.
It’s 7 AM, the night is over.
Now a new day begins – it’s time to find somewhere to sleep again.
Malmö
It’s 3 AM, a summer night at the end of July. Aftonbladet is at the central station in Malmö. The music, laughter, and fights have subsided. Now only the footsteps of the guards and distant ambulance sirens can be heard.
Here lies Bengt Winn, 63, one of Malmö’s homeless. He usually sleeps poorly – covering his ears, closing his eyes, and trying to fall asleep again. Bengt has been homeless for three years.
”I have worked as a chef for 45 years and paid taxes to my country,” he says.
Around 6 AM, Bengt sits at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to take him to the city mission in Värnhem. There he will get breakfast and maybe a shower.
”I take the bus without paying and beg on the street to fulfill my needs,” says Bengt Winn. Photo: Hilale Nizami
Bengt developed leg problems three years ago, which led to him losing his job. ”Who wants a handicap?” Bengt asks rhetorically, pointing to his legs. He says his life was ruined after he ended up in a wheelchair. Since becoming unemployed, he has had a guardian whom he doesn’t feel safe with.
”My guardian has blocked my cards, I need a bus card but she won’t even buy that. Every time I try to contact her, she scolds me for contacting her. I take the bus without paying and beg on the street to fulfill my needs,” says Bengt Winn.
Bengt has contacted the bank to open a new account, but this required a residential address. His hands are sore from pushing the wheelchair such long distances every day. It’s around 7 AM when Aftonbladet follows Bengt to the city mission. On the bus, he is happy to show his ticket for the first time in a long time.
Bengt’s wheelchair. Photo: Hilale Nizami
We get off at Värnhem. It’s a fifteen-minute walk to the city mission – but it feels longer for Bengt in his wheelchair.
Bengt becomes despondent and slows down his wheelchair.
”I try to stay happy and friendly, but it’s hard when you constantly get kicked in the back. We arrive at the city mission where many other homeless people have gathered. Some have their dogs with them, but they are forced to leave them outside. With tired eyes but smiles on their lips, they greet Aftonbladet’s reporter.
Bengt has to use a different entrance with his wheelchair. Approximately 100 people are served breakfast in the large dining hall. They have different ages, backgrounds, and origins.
”Thank you for everything, I hope there will be a change. This is how it looks,” says Bengt Winn.
Bengt pushes the wheelchair with one hand and waves goodbye with a small smile. He enters the dining hall and the door closes behind him.
Eleonor Holmlund. Photo: Hilale Nizami
”They told me no one would hire me,” Eleonor said. Photo: Hilale Nizami
Eleonor Holmlund is 70 years old and comes from Helsingborg. At the age of 16, she entered the workforce but was forced to quit working at the age of 50 due to various reasons.
”It was shameful to be an alcoholic and a woman. The social services helped me with treatment centers – it was the best thing I did,” says Eleonor Holmlund.
When she became sober, Eleonor gained new hope for life. To start fresh, she went to the social services to get help finding a new job.
”They told me no one would hire me. It hurt to hear that. It happened a long time ago, but it weighed me down. You feel so humiliated,” says Eleonor Holmlund.
Eleonor has vision problems. She went to the social services to get help with glasses, but was told that she had to solve it with her pension which barely covers her expenses.
”I have never done anything to harm my country, I still pay taxes on my pension. But we are still invisible,” says Eleonor Holmlund.
The latest national survey conducted by the National Board of Health and Welfare in 2017 showed that over 33,250 people were homeless. There are no updated figures on how many people are homeless today.
