Insulin-Addicted Women Spends Nights in the Street

Nino Akhobadze

57-year-old Neli Lekiashvili does not get up in her house in the morning. She does not have a house at all and spends nights in the street. Ms. Neli is a disabled person; she has Diabetes and injects insulin three times per day. She has gone through several heart-attacks and strokes. 

Mostly, the woman spends days sitting on the chair in more or less calm street nearby Rustaveli underground station in Tbilisi. She cannot walk much because of poor health. It is already cold in the city and she cannot sit in the street for a long time; so she selects the longest itinerary of the public bus # 37 and travels on it to get warmer.

She sold her house in Rustavi years ago, during Shevardnadze’s governance to protect her only son from military service and purchased military document for her son. 

Afterwards, Neli Lekiashvili rented a flat together with her son; later her parents received a flat from an old man they took care of and Lekiashvilis moved there to live. Previous government planned to demolish the house because it was damaged and promised alternative accommodations to inhabitants. In December, 2013 nephew evicted Neli Lekiashvili from the damaged flat; as a result the woman had heart attack and stroke. Government promised them to pay 300 lari for the rented flat but required rent-agreement from landlord. Isani-Samgori district administration found appropriate flat for Lekiashvilis but as Ms. Neli says there were unbearable conditions in the flat particularly for the sick person.

Neli Lekiashvili, homeless person: “it was very problematic house. It did not have ventilation and there was terrible smell in the room. My daughter-in-law could not stand living there and moved to her parents in the village. The smell made me sick and often called ambulance. I kept windows open that caused discontent of the landlady, who feared the neighbors will learn about faults on her flat and demanded me to immediately leave the place! I had to find new flat but it was difficult to find an owner, who would agree to sign rent contract.”

Neli Lekiashvili said she was compelled to leave the flat. She informed representative of Isani-Samgori district administration Ani Tordia about the fact. Ms. Neli said she tried to personally meet district governor Khutsishvili or his deputy on social issues Saginadze but Ani Tordia and chancellery members usually created barriers for her.

Lekiashvilis found 14 sq. meters flat, which was so narrow that he could not even bend to pick up something from the floor. Personal belongings of the flat owner were stored in the flat too and for that reason social agent raised rating of Lekiashvilis. The flat was not supplied with gas. Neli Lekiashvili said the owner agreed to sign agreement but initially she agreed to get rent at the end of the month but later she changed her mind and demanded the money in the beginning of month. 

Neli Lekiashvili: “She threw my things away and called patrol police complaining I did not pay rent. I also called patrol police and explained to them that I depended on the decision of the district administration. The patrol police officer said the flat owner had right to evict me from her house any time. The owner demanded me to take my things away otherwise threatened with throwing them out. The first landlady sued me for not having paid the rent of the last month though I have paid it. The district administration stopped my allowance. When I applied to Ani Tordia for help, she said she was just a currier and could not assist me; though she was the only contact person at the district administration. I have applied to everybody; I bothered everybody but no result yet.”

Neli Lekiashvili cannot receive social allowance because she does not have address. She cannot receive pension because the bank deducts it for the unpaid debt of her son. Ms. Neli’s son works on the taxi to keep family; he is renting the car. “Unless he pays the rent, he will lose car; so sometimes he works all night. When he earns enough money, he feels better and takes me with him to spend night in the car,” Neli said.

City Hall offered Neli Lekiashvili to live in the tents for homeless people in Moscow Avenue but having arrived at the place she was told there were unbearable conditions there; there was no place and sick person could not stand there. She sent petition to the City Hall and waiting for the response for one and half month already.

Head of Legal Aid Center at Human Rights Center Tamar Avaliani provides Neli Lekiashvili with free legal aid. “Socially indigent Neli Lekiashvili applied to us for help; she said the city hall stopped her social aid for flat rent. They argued for not having paid the rent for the previous landlady. Neli Lekiashvili has been living in the street for months; she has no shelter and has grave health problems. She cannot live in the street with her illnesses. We petitioned to the Tbilisi City Mayor and asked meeting with him; we also requested compensation and accommodation for the woman. The City Hall scheduled meeting with us but when we arrived, representatives of the City Hall told us the meeting was not appointed. Neli Lekiashvili is still struggling for justice but could not succeed so far.”