It is cold and frosty in large parts of Bavaria - this can be life-threatening for the homeless. The cities in the Free State have accommodation and other offers of help for those affected. Some report an increase in homelessness - also because of the war in Ukraine.
Munich (dpa / lby) - homeless people in Bavaria are facing a hard winter. More and more people in need have recently reported to contact points such as warming rooms or panels, said Verena Zillig, managing director of the Bavarian Homeless Aid Foundation. Apparently, this is related, among other things, to the difficult economic situation and the enormous price increases. Among those seeking help are also many people who fled from the war in Ukraine. However, it is still unclear whether the number of homeless people has increased, said Zillig.
In general, one speaks of homelessness when people do not own or rent their own apartment - this also includes those who, for example, have found accommodation in communal or emergency accommodation or with friends. Homeless people are people who have no fixed abode and no accommodation and therefore usually spend the night in public spaces - for example in parks, subway stations or under bridges.
As Vera Zillig explains, people often lose their homes due to rent or energy debts. Even after separations, illnesses or prison stays, many are on the streets. Domestic conflicts were a reason for this, especially among women.
The Munich social department estimates the number of homeless people in the city to be around 550. The state capital has numerous contact points, places to eat and clothing stores for them. Homeless people can also sleep and shower in the "Overnight Shelter" on the site of the former Bayern barracks in the Freimann district.
According to the city, almost 8,900 people were homeless at the end of the third quarter of 2022 - including war refugees, for example from Ukraine. The war led to a significant increase in the number of homeless people, said a spokesman for the social services department. Some of those affected are housed in the municipal system of homeless assistance, others live in so-called decentralized accommodation, communal accommodation or facilities run by aid organizations.
According to the city of Nuremberg, together with various sponsors, 200 emergency sleeping places are available for the needy - according to the social department, this is currently sufficient. During the day, homeless people can stay in a warming room or a street ambulance, where they can also receive medical care if necessary. The Franconian metropolis also provides lounges that are separated by gender and offers specifically for drug addicts.
Nuremberg's social officer Elisabeth Ries appeals to those affected to accept the city's offers: "No one has to spend the night under the open sky. Together with our partners, we offer all homeless people in Nuremberg places to sleep." Sleeping outside in wintry temperatures is life-threatening, Ries warned.
Bavaria's third-largest city Augsburg reports no significant increase in the number of homeless people compared to previous winters. "We still have a sufficiently large number of accommodation places," said a spokesman for the social department.
Almost 230 people are currently being accommodated in urban homeless shelters in Augsburg - these include apartments and so-called temporary homes. In addition, the Swabian city works with social organizations and street workers and has a warming room and a cold bus available during the day.
