The Društvo za pomoč in samopomoč brezdomcev Kralji ulice, or "Kings of the Street," is a vital non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organisation in Slovenia dedicated to the aid and self-help of people who are homeless and other socially excluded groups. Established in 2005, the organisation’s mission goes beyond merely providing emergency shelter or sustenance; it is fundamentally focused on empowerment, reintegration, and restoring the dignity of those who have been marginalised by society.
The core philosophy of Kralji ulice is one of self-help (samopomoč). It intentionally blends the expertise of social professionals with the lived experience of its beneficiaries—individuals who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced homelessness and associated social exclusion. This collaborative approach ensures that the programmes are not dictated from an ivory tower but are grounded in practical reality and the needs articulated by the community they serve. Guided by the overarching ethical principles, emphasising holistic care, respect, and long-term societal inclusion—Kralji ulice has become an indispensable force in Slovenian social services, actively challenging the stigma of homelessness.
The most visible and emblematic component of the organisation’s work is the street newspaper, also named Kralji ulice. It holds the distinction of being the first street newspaper in Slovenia dedicated to homelessness and related social issues. Unlike conventional publications, the street paper is an instrument of social policy designed to facilitate a more active and socially acceptable participation in public life for its vendors, who are all people who are homeless or severely socially excluded.
The publication operates on the global street paper model, where the vendors purchase the papers at a low cost and keep all the profits from the sales, thereby providing a legitimate, dignified source of income. This income is crucial for economic stability, but the deeper purpose is psychosocial. Selling the paper forces social interaction, rebuilding communication skills, and connecting the vendors with the broader public in a transaction based on mutual exchange, rather than passive charity. This active engagement is the self-help principle in action, moving individuals from a position of exclusion to one of agency.
Published monthly, the newspaper is distributed in Ljubljana, Maribor, the Slovenian Littoral, and occasionally elsewhere across the country. Crucially, the content often gives a voice to those living on the margins. By publishing articles, poems, and stories written by its vendors or about the issues they face, the paper serves as a potent tool for raising public awareness. It challenges pervasive stereotypes, educates the community about the systemic causes of homelessness, and acts as an advocate for the society’s most vulnerable. Through its journalistic efforts and public outreach, the paper explicitly champions the ultimate goal of the organisation: accessible housing for all.
Central to the daily operations of Kralji ulice is its Daily Distribution Center with Field Work (Dnevni center s terenskim delom) located in Ljubljana. This center operates on the principle of low-threshold access, a critical element for successfully engaging with the most excluded individuals. Low-threshold means that entry requires minimal preconditions—essentially only being of legal age and agreeing to basic rules of respect and non-violence (no alcohol or drug use is permitted on the premises). This approach stands in contrast to high-threshold services, which often demand sobriety, employment, or adherence to complex personal development plans before services are granted.
The Daily Center is a safe haven. It provides a daily operational base where people who are homeless can access essential services. This includes receiving and storing donated items (used, but clean and serviceable, clothing, footwear, and food), and simply having a warm, dry place to rest and socialise.
The accompanying Field Work (Terensko delo) component is vital for outreach. Trained staff and volunteers actively seek out and engage with people who are homeless in their environments—under bridges, in abandoned buildings, or on the streets. This proactive outreach is essential because many individuals who are severely marginalised, suffer from mental illness, or have profound distrust of institutions will not visit a formal service setting. The field work builds trust slowly, often over months, and serves as the crucial first step in connecting people to further formal and informal support, paving the way for eventual reintegration.
Kralji ulice is a dedicated proponent of the globally recognised "Housing First" approach, which informs its "Individualised and Comprehensive Housing Support" program (Indvidualizirana in celovita nastanitvena podpora brezdomnim). This principle fundamentally asserts that the right to housing is a basic, inalienable human right.
The traditional approach to homelessness often adopts a "treatment first" model, demanding that people who are homeless achieve a degree of stability—such as securing employment, completing substance abuse treatment, or managing mental health issues—before being granted permanent housing. In contrast, the Housing First model provides safe, appropriate, and affordable housing immediately, without requiring preconditions. Kralji uluce understands that secure accommodation is not the reward for stability, but rather the prerequisite for achieving it. Once housed, individuals are supported with intensive, individualised psychological and social support to help them tackle the underlying issues that contributed to their homelessness (e.g., securing documents, psychosocial rehabilitation, education, job market inclusion, or treatment programs). This innovative, user-centred strategy is key to effective, long-term exit from homelessness.
Complementing the Housing First initiative is the Prevention of Evictions (Preprečevanje deložacij) programme, which the organisation started developing in Ljubljana in 2012 and expanded to Maribor in 2016. The primary goal of this program is to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless in the first place. The programme focuses on tenants of public housing funds who face imminent risk of losing their affordable, safe accommodation—a stage often just prior to an official eviction proceeding. By providing timely professional and legal support, mediation, financial counselling, and empowerment, Kralji ulice helps these individuals retain their tenancies, thus acting as a crucial preventative barrier against the cyclical nature of housing insecurity.
To address the multifaceted nature of social exclusion, Kralji ulice runs several other innovative programmes that focus on education, culture, and physical activity:
The Society for the Aid and Self-Help of people who are homeless Kralji ulice is a model for effective humanitarian intervention. Its commitment to the highest ethical and operational standards, coupled with its multifaceted approach—combining the visibility and empowerment of the street newspaper, the immediate aid of the low-threshold center, and the long-term, structural support of the Housing First and eviction prevention programs—creates a holistic pathway out of homelessness.
By working simultaneously on the macro level (public awareness and policy advocacy) and the micro level (individualised support and skill-building), Kralji ulice not only assists people who are homeless but actively works to redefine their place in Slovenian society, championing self-determination, dignity, and the right to a stable life for all. The organisation relies on community engagement, including SMS and tax donations, reflecting its deep integration into the public life it seeks to serve and uplift.
