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Left: More help for the homeless and open subway stations

The emergency shelters for the homeless are becoming cramped. In freezing temperatures, this can be life-threatening for those affected. The Berlin Left Party is calling on the Senate and transport companies to take action.

,   and  ZEITUNG «AUSSIEDLERBOTE»
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A man stands with a blanket between waiting cars in the snow and asks for alms. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de
A man stands with a blanket between waiting cars in the snow and asks for alms. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Homelessness - Left: More help for the homeless and open subway stations

Berlin's Left Party parliamentary group is calling for more help for the homeless in view of the freezing temperatures. "The persistent cold and the obvious increase in the number of homeless people demands immediate action from the Senate, the districts and the BVG," said the parliamentary group's social policy spokesperson, Katina Schubert, on Monday. "The number of places in the cold aid program must be increased immediately." They were clearly no longer sufficient. "Until then, at least some subway stations must be opened at night to provide support." This is a matter of life and limb, argued Schubert. "The BVG must not look the other way."

On Friday, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg's social councillor, Oliver Nöll (Linke), had already called on the Berlin transport company (BVG) to keep selected subway stations open for homeless people. In response to an inquiry, the BVG announced that there would be no so-called cold stations. Due to train traffic and heavy current in the track area, the necessary security could not be provided. There are also no sanitary facilities.

There is a lack of space in the emergency shelters for the homeless run by Berlin's Kältehilfe. According to the League of Independent Welfare Associations, the average occupancy rate in the middle of last week was 97 percent.

Press release Oliver Nöll

Read also:

  1. The Left Party believes that the Berlin Senate, districts, and BVG should provide additional help for the homeless due to the harsh temperatures, as the current number of places in the cold aid program is insufficient.
  2. Oliver Nöll, the social councillor of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, previously requested that the Berlin transport company (BVG) keep selected subway stations open for homeless individuals, but the BVG declined due to safety concerns and lack of sanitary facilities.
  3. Amidst the freezing temperatures and overcrowding in emergency shelters, Berlin's Kältehilfe struggles to accommodate all homeless individuals, with an average occupancy rate of 97 percent in the middle of last week.

Source: www.stern.de

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