As temperatures drop, the risk for people without permanent homes increases. What can citizens do? Mecklenburg-West Pomerania What do cities do when they see people needing help and protection, especially on cold nights?
“No one should spend the night outdoors in the cold,” says the Stralsund city government and this is also the tenor of other cities. “In acute emergencies, 110 or 112 is always the right phone number,” explained a city spokesperson Stralsund. Otherwise, residents can refer those who need help directly to the offerings, some of which are available in cities especially during the winter. Overview:
Rostock
In the Rostock Rostock Homeless Aid’s street social service can be contacted on 0381 697382. It tries to provide direct care to people on the street, alleviating acute situations and, if necessary, providing referrals. The homeless charity also offers cold bus contact points, on Wednesdays at HanseMesse and on Fridays in the city centre. The public can also contact the Social Welfare Service (0381 3815249), including if they need advice.
The largest city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has emergency shelters (at Rahnstädter Weg and a former freight yard) for overnight stays, where sufficient sleeping space is available every day without prior notice. In addition, from November to the end of March, people can warm up in the former heating room where goods are transported on weekends and holidays.
The meeting point at Platform 1 in Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt offers a daytime cafe, showering and washing facilities and other assistance, except at weekends.
Schwerin
In Schwerin, citizens can refer those in need of help to local homeless shelters and contact the city government to draw attention to homelessness. These will then be visited by city employees. According to the city government, this accommodation has 45 places, on average 28 places are occupied. It was never fully utilized. The Bahnhof Mission also offers food and Caritas also has an open offer. Homeless people can get clothes at clothing stores.
Neubrandenburg
In Neubrandenburg, the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund runs a homeless shelter on Sponholzer Straße. According to the city government, there are 12 beds for overnight stays and 34 beds in the living area. No prior appointment is required for overnight accommodation.
Greifswald
The Greifswald municipality also advises that, if worst comes to worse, you should refer homeless people directly to existing offers of help and notify the municipality (03834 8536-4347 or 03834 8536-0). Volkssolidarität runs a homeless shelter in the south of the city (Am Gorzberg) (03834 840907). Kreisdiakonisches Werk Greifswald also offers a day and meeting place in Lomonossowallee with hot food and drinks for a small fee, laundry facilities and advice (03834 899797).
Stralsund
In Stralsund, DRK runs a 44-site homeless shelter on Mühlgrabenstrasse. According to the city, five spaces currently remain. “That doesn’t mean that there will be no more admissions when capacity is full.” In case of emergency, the single room will become a double room. Here too, those affected can contact the facility directly (03831 703690). There is also a clothing room there. We are also open from November to March. The Stralsund public order office can be contacted on 3831 253 743 and will arrange emergency accommodation allocation after personal consultation.
Wismar
According to the city, there are 15 places available for homeless people at Wismar Gundlach House (03841 39423790). “No one will be turned away.” If there is not enough space, a solution will be found. Citizens can inform homeless people about the accommodation or notify the city that someone needs help. “This also happens routinely.”
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