THE PROBLEM OF CHILDREN’S HOMELESSNESS IN THE ZHYTOMYR REGION AND THE FIGHT AGAINST IT DURING THE LATE STALINISM (1944–1953)

Abstract

The extent of child homelessness and carelessness in the Zhytomyr region in the first postwar decade is analyzed in the article. The system of measures taken by the Soviet authorities to overcome this social problem is also considered. In particular, the state and conditions of functioning of orphanages in the region are described. It is stated that after the liberation of the region from the German occupiers, the problem of child homelessness became extremely urgent, which was caused by a number of both objective and subjective factors. Its solution to a large extent depended on the attention of the relevant state bodies and society in general, which had to respond in a timely manner to the needs of such children. As part of this task solution, the issue of the situation of orphanages, which needed serious assistance, was on the agenda of local authorities. Local authorities understood the need to quickly address the urgent problems of children, as evidenced by its annual regulations during this period. Among the measures aimed at overcoming child homelessness by local authorities are: registration of homeless children, placement them in orphanages and individual and collective patronage, organization of the institute of public inspectors to combat child homelessness and carelessness, allocation of additional premises for children’s homes, as well as providing them with the necessary inventory and equipment, allocating from 20 to 30 hectares of land to orphanages for the organization of subsidiary farms, etc. However, as practice has shown, the measures taken by the party-Soviet authorities to overcome child homelessness and carelessness were carried out in a bureaucratic manner and, therefore, were ineffective. Traditionally, the regional leadership saw the main reason for this state of affairs in the negligent attitude to the work of orphanage management, insufficient control over this process by party curators, abuse of their professional position by some officials, etc. Therefore, in the early 1950s, the problem remained far from being solved.