Homelessness: Winter emergency program in Hamburg ends | EUROtoday

As of: 2:22 p.m | Reading time: 2 minutes

NAfter 5 months of temperatures typically properly under zero levels Celsius, Hamburg's winter emergency program for homeless individuals has formally ended. The further sleeping areas within the shared lodging have been used intensively once more, stated a spokesman for the social authorities in Hamburg on Tuesday. The two places on Friesenstrasse and Halskestrasse had been extremely utilized, particularly within the colder months of this 12 months.

According to preliminary evaluations, occupancy was round 85 % in December, round 89 % in January and round 83 % in February. In the primary month of the winter emergency program, which at all times runs from November 1st to April 1st, round 72 % of the beds had been occupied. No figures had been initially obtainable for March. The two places supply a complete of 700 sleeping locations for homeless individuals; the services are closed in the course of the day. In whole, there are greater than 800 sleeping locations within the winter emergency program, by which church communities and different establishments additionally participate and, for instance, supply in a single day locations in containers.

“We are satisfied with this year’s winter emergency program. Open throughout the winter months, it not only offers accommodation through advisory services, but also shows perspectives. In addition to a roof over your head, it offers social connection and human warmth.” These presents are primarily potential due to the work of the various volunteers and full-time professionals who’re concerned in serving to the homeless.

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Social associations resembling Diakonie Hamburg have lengthy been calling for the winter emergency program to be opened all day. According to Diakonie, town's choices are usually good, and anybody who’s sick can often keep within the winter emergency program in the course of the day.

The Hamburg Action Alliance Against Housing Shortage – an affiliation of homeless help suppliers from the non-profit welfare sector – criticized on Tuesday that the supply is barely obtainable within the winter months. Instead, the alliance referred to as for a distinct strategy to the needy, homeless individuals on this metropolis.

It is vital to have lodging obtainable all 12 months spherical for all needy homeless or homeless individuals in Hamburg, “which offer an appropriate standard for stabilizing the precarious living situation and guarantee privacy that corresponds to the requirement of human dignity”. The alliance drew consideration to its concepts at a rally on the fundamental prepare station on Tuesday.