In view of rising living and energy costs, there is an increasing demand for help in Thuringia. The operators of warming rooms also feel this.
Apolda/Mühlhausen/Gotha/Erfurt (dpa/th) – Increasing demand and additional costs pose increasing challenges to the heat rooms and meeting places in Thuringia. “The demand for our offers is already increasing, but we are well prepared for the winter,” said Kerstin Thielemann from the Apoldaer Tafel. Due to the general increase in costs, more and more people are being evicted or are finding it difficult to pay their rent. The Tafel itself expects energy costs to double compared to the previous year.
The basic problem of the aid organizations is the fact that increased prices for food, petrol or energy cannot be passed on, explained Thielemann. For example, the volunteers would have to go to supermarkets and other food dispensers in an ever-growing area due to the greater demand. The increased fuel costs made this work more expensive.
So far, however, the carriers have promised their continued financial security, emphasized Thielemann. The situation for financially disadvantaged people in the Apolda region is also getting worse because there are hardly any affordable apartments available due to the accommodation of refugees.
The Diakonisches Werk Eichsfeld-Mühlhausen, which, in addition to a warming room, also offers a table and a social meeting place in Mühlhausen and Schlotheim, sees itself well prepared for the cold season despite increasing demand. In Mühlhausen, an expansion of the existing offer has been planned for some time, said managing director Grit Jugl. With the support of several local partners, an additional building is to be built in the immediate vicinity of the Tafel in the coming months, which, according to current planning, will also offer advice and food distribution in addition to the possibility of warming up.
The Liora meeting place in Gotha also sees itself well positioned for the coming winter. The facility is open to everyone, said project manager Sabine Hertzschuch. In addition to the opportunity to shower, warm up and eat, talks and advice are also a very important part of the offer. “Sometimes it’s important to just listen and be there when people don’t have homes or families.” For the homeless, sleeping bags and thermal mugs would also be given out if necessary and contacts to the clothing store would be arranged. Every day, between 35 and 50 people use the food on offer in return for a voluntary donation – here, too, the demand is increasing noticeably.
In Erfurt, a project by the railway station mission complements the offer of the Caritas day meeting or the restaurant of the heart of the city mission, said the chairman of the railway station mission, Hubertus Schönemann. At the beginning of November, a pavilion was set up at Erfurt’s main train station, offering travelers and other guests a place to retreat and a space for discussions and help. “In winter it is of course possible that someone who is on the street will also be in our pavilion for a warm period during opening hours.” The pavilion is open on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
According to city spokesmen, there are currently no warming rooms for the homeless in Jena and Gera, and they are not planned in the future either. According to a spokeswoman for the city of Jena, homeless people there often go to the city’s shopping centers to warm up. According to a spokeswoman, an association in Gera offers a warm-up opportunity for young people and young adults.
