Cold relief in Berlin: This is how homeless people can ensure warm nights!

Cold relief in Berlin: This is how homeless people can ensure warm nights!

With the start of the cold season, the situation for homeless people in Berlin becomes particularly challenging. The official cold season started on October 1st and will last until the end of March. During this time, the nights can not only be very cold, but also extremely long, as the taz reports. There are currently 720 overnight places available in the capital, although this number is expected to increase from November.

Berliner Kühlhilfe has been offering unbureaucratic overnight accommodation for homeless people since 1989 and is committed to ensuring that no one freezes to death in the city. Numerous programs await those in need, including emergency overnight stays, night cafés, soup kitchens and meeting points. The offers are anonymous and free of charge and are financed by donations and grants from the State of Berlin. The cold relief coordination office takes over the planning and development of specific locations and coordinates their offers on behalf of the Senate Department for Social Affairs, adds the Senate Department for Social Affairs.

Offers of help during the cold protection season

In order to help homeless people during this critical time, over a dozen homeless day centers (WoTas) have been set up during the day to provide social contacts and basic supplies. The Berlin City Mission's cold bus and the DRK heat bus are active in the evenings to provide direct help. These mobile services offer warm drinks, food and sleeping bags and, if requested, can take those affected to a safe emergency overnight place. This is particularly important because emergency shelters typically have a high occupancy rate of 92 to 96 percent.

As the RBB reports, homeless people in acutely dangerous situations can request help without their consent by contacting the emergency services (112). With all of these measures, it is crucial to first ask whether the homeless people need help. This human touch not only encourages contact, but also increases the chances that those affected will receive support.

Support and networking

There are many options for those interested in supporting cold relief. Whether through monetary donations to the organizations involved or through donations in kind such as warm clothing, sleeping bags and other needed items. For example, the Berlin City Mission and Caritas accept well-preserved textiles through their clothing stores. These points of contact are an important part of cold relief, especially in times of need when temperatures drop.

For a comprehensive overview of the available help, the cold help app is available, which can be used offline. Emergency shelters, services and helpful telephone numbers are listed there. In addition to the overnight accommodation provided, social contacts, support and medical care can also be accessed in special health centers for homeless people.

The challenges homeless people face during the winter months are numerous. It is the community's responsibility to keep a close eye on each other and provide possible help. Increased attention and humanity can make a decisive contribution to ensuring that no one is forgotten.

Use this information to actively participate in cold weather relief in Berlin and, as part of the solution, to support the accommodation of homeless people in the cold season.

Further information can be found on the websites of [taz](https://taz.de/ Movementstermine-fuer-Berlin/!6115094/), Senate Department for Social Affairs and RBB.