In our survey, we found that about 10 percent of the homeless children had come to Moscow with their families and lived at first in hotels or hostels, later migrating to train stations, cellars and lofts. Often, children are the main breadwinners for such families, since they are more successful in begging or trading in small merchandise like stationery or books. Most of the street children work at the markets, wash cars, clean kiosks and do other odd jobs. Occasionally the traders help some of the children, but on the whole relationships are purely functional. There is also an informal, alternative society in Moscow created by the children and young people which allows many of them to survive in the situation of adversity and urban alienation.
Children migrate from group to group.
Often, it as a matter of pure chance which particular group they join. Street children are attracted by the system because of the protection it gives them. Quasi-familial relationships develop. There can be a System father or mother, sisters and brothers who are engaged in informal exchange of food and money and emotional support. The ties are quite weak, and mutual obligations are not always fulfilled.