Fate of life on the street: Michael and the silent bus stop

Fate of life on the street: Michael and the silent bus stop

Thousands of people live homeless in Berlin, and the city's streets are flooded with fates that often remain hidden. The crisis is particularly visible in the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts. Standing near Mehringdamm is Michael, a stocky man with a long beard and frizzy hair who has been living on the street for almost four years. Despite the hectic environment with cars, cyclists and pedestrians, the bus stop where he stays has become his temporary home. There are no BVG vehicles here during the day, only a bus runs at night. Michael has equipped his space with a shopping cart containing blankets, shoes, food supplies and empty alcohol bottles. His tight pink t-shirt and “vida loca” tattoo reflect the reality of life on the streets. He is part of a growing number of homeless people whose living situation is often characterized by escape, psychological problems and addictions, as rbb24 reports.

The winter cold in Berlin makes living conditions for the homeless considerably more difficult. During the last cold season, the Berlin City Mission ensured that 3,700 homeless people were able to stay in their sleeping facilities. Last year there were 2,699. Despite these efforts, support is often not enough. Those affected often remain on the streets because they reject the accommodation offered or they cannot adapt to the requirements. The district office for Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg has recognized that it needs more staff to ensure the correct registration of the homeless and is currently breaking new ground with new projects such as “Little Homes”.

Promotions and offers of help

The city offers several programs to help homeless people. This includes the “Protect and Restart for People Without Homes” (Sun) project, which provides shelter for 88 people until November, and the emergency shelters that are open during the winter months. These not only offer sleeping places, but also advice and medical care. People in need can also contact the help hotline for homeless people on 0157 80 59 78 70, which is available from Monday to Friday. The Berlin City Mission's cold bus and the DRK's heat bus are also available to provide acute winter cold relief.

In addition, the waste problem caused by homeless camps is often discussed in important Berlin districts such as Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Residents are concerned, which often leads to responses from districts. Most homeless people have complex needs, and 27% of those receiving cold relief last winter alone were German. The diversity among the homeless is highlighted by Barbara Breuer from the city mission, who points out that many of them need additional care or therapy to get into their own apartment.

The situation in Berlin

Berlin has the highest number of homeless people among major German cities. Nevertheless, there are numerous facilities that offer support. Accommodations like the AWO Kiezcafé in Friedrichshain or the Kurmärkische Emergency Overnight Stay in Schöneberg are just a few of the many places that provide essential help. The city also appeals to citizens to provide voluntary support. Donations and commitment are required. Gift fences for donations of goods, clothing and hygiene are widespread and offer an easy way to help those in need.