- Hamburg's hot-water bus for the homeless on the way
The Hamburg Cold Bus has been operating as a heat bus in recent weeks, driving through the city on hot summer days to help homeless people. "The Cold Bus has been on water tours twelve times so far. It will also be out again this afternoon and tomorrow," said Christina Pillat-Prieß, coordinator of the Cold Bus, to the German Press Agency in Hamburg. On each tour, they distribute between 50 and 100 half-liter water bottles. "Additionally, there are about five liters of iced tea and plenty of fruit salad."
How long the volunteers are out depends on how many homeless people they encounter. Typically, the teams are out for three to five hours. "In the summer, we also allocate more time for talking and listening to the homeless, as we don't receive as many calls that need to be handled under time pressure," Pillat-Prieß added. Normally, the Cold Bus operates in the winter and responds to calls about potentially helpless people without a roof over their heads.
During conversations, the volunteers learn a lot about the resignation of people who no longer believe in a life with more dignity, Pillat-Prieß continued. They have also been approached several times by passersby who were neither homeless nor in need, simply because they wanted free water and fruit. This behavior has left the teams speechless. "But the people we're actually out to help are happy to see us."
The Cold Bus volunteers often engage with The Community, offering them water, tea, and fruit during their summer tours. The Hamburg Cold Bus is a vital service provided by The Community, offering assistance to the city's homeless population.
