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Day 23

A warm soup for a homeless person in Berlin

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A warm soup for a homeless person in Berlin
Day 23
Cold weather aid for the homeless in Berlin

There is at least one plate of warm soup when the winter emergency shelter in Berlin opens its doors every evening. And every Wednesday a former guest helps out. We met Christoph, 42 years old, on the street last autumn and treated him in our mobile doctor. He lived on the street and came to our emergency shelter just in time for the start of the cold weather aid season on November 1st. Christoph tells a lot and can complain heartily about all the adversities he has encountered in his life. Thanks to our mediation, he sought help from an advice center for people in need of housing and was able to move into his own room in a Berlin homeless shelter by Christmas. Things don't always end so well. Most of the people we welcome as overnight guests in the cold weather aid have been through difficult times and look to the future with fear.

Cold weather aid for the homeless in Berlin
need
Warm meals and places to sleep for the homeless during the winter months.
activity
During the winter months, the Berlin Caritas provides sleeping places, warm food and drinks as well as sanitary facilities for the homeless.
Measurable performance
Number of meals and sleeping places provided for the homeless during the winter months.
Result
Cold weather aid protects homeless people from frostbite and death from cold. Diseases are prevented.
Systemically relevant impact
The problem of homelessness cannot be solved by cold weather aid - but it does prevent people from freezing to death on the streets in winter.
background

It is estimated that around 11,000 people are homeless in Berlin. There are many reasons why people lose their homes and end up living on the streets. Increasing poverty and a lack of housing or rising rents are cited as the main reasons for homelessness.

In Berlin, Caritas is active all year round for the homeless: with an emergency overnight accommodation, the outpatient clinic at Bahnhof Zoo and a mobile doctor's office. In winter, overnight accommodation and a warming room are added. This is precisely when the danger for the homeless is greatest: the cold temperatures mean they can no longer sleep outside.

We want to prevent people from dying from the cold and offer protection from frostbite and infectious diseases. Almost as important as a place to sleep, a shower and a warm dinner are the sensitive conversations - our volunteers always have an open ear for our overnight guests.

Day 23 Day 23
The good deed

From October to March, Caritas offers 25 men a bowl of warm soup and a safe place to sleep in an emergency shelter. No one should have to freeze to death on the streets of Berlin. The men who spend the night here are protected from freezing to death, frostbite and cold-related illnesses. In addition to a bed and warm food and drinks, the full-time and voluntary Caritas employees have an "open ear" for the problems and difficulties of the overnight guests. A hot shower is also available. If necessary, Caritas will of course also refer you to further assistance. Today's donation will help to finance the warm meals for the homeless.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
82 667 700
82 667 700
Population
41 902
41 902
Gross domestic product per capita per year
4
4
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Germany is one of the richest countries in the world - and yet there is a lot of poverty. In the last 6 years, the number of homeless people has increased by 35%.
About the organization and further information

organization

Caritas Association for the Archdiocese of Berlin eV

website

www.caritas-berlin.de/

Initiative for Transparent Civil Society

Further links