Winter emergency program in Hamburg open longer in sub-zero temperatures
Due to the icy temperatures, the city of Hamburg has extended the opening hours of the winter emergency program for homeless people. The Halskestraße and Friesenstraße locations will remain open for a total of four hours longer - until 11.30 a.m. in the morning and from 3 p.m. in the afternoon, according to the social services department. If temperatures fall below minus 5 degrees, the two locations of the winter emergency program will even remain open throughout.
"The opening hours of the emergency overnight shelters can be adjusted depending on storms or severe weather conditions, such as the current cold spell, up to all-day opening," said spokesman Wolfgang Arnhold. "We use a traffic light system for this, which is based on the warning levels and warning criteria of the German Weather Service. In situations where there is a certain amount of leeway in the assessment of the situation or the situation is between two levels, a decision is always made in favor of the higher level of protection for the homeless."
According to Fördern & Wohnen, 602 people spent the night in the winter emergency program during the frosty temperatures and snowfall on Thursday night. The two locations with their 700 sleeping places were therefore 87 and 84 percent full respectively. At the start of the winter emergency program at the beginning of November, only half of the places were initially occupied.
The extension of the winter emergency program's hours is crucial for homeless individuals during the harsh winter temperatures. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, many homeless people find shelter and warmth at the Halskestraße and Friesenstraße locations.
Source: www.dpa.com
