Upper Austria. In the cold season, homeless people are particularly at risk. Temperatures can now drop so quickly that life on the street, under bridges or in demolished houses is no longer safe. The cold protection hotline of the social association B37 offers the possibility to request quick help by phone.
“In Upper Austria, the homeless are offered professional help all year round, but we have to pay special attention to them in winter. People who make a neglected or drunk impression often look the other way. Please don’t look the other way, a quick phone call can save lives, ”appeals Minister for Social Affairs Birgit Gerstorfer.
to get help
If homeless people in Upper Austria obviously need support, the employees of the social association B37 can be contacted at 0732 / 776767-560. If a call has been received, depending on the circumstances described, the homeless person is visited as quickly as possible by trained social workers at the named location or, in an emergency, the rescue service is alerted immediately.
The cold protection hotline is manned by trained employees by telephone every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Outside these times, a message can be sent to [email protected] and the social workers will respond to the report as quickly as possible. In acute cases of danger, the emergency number 144 or the police must be notified.
“Some homeless people don’t want to go to the shelter, but we know where they usually stay. In winter, our street workers regularly check to see if help is needed and provide people on the spot with warm clothes and sleeping bags if necessary, ”explains Thomas Niedermayr, B37 facility manager and street worker.
Additional Corona problem
“In addition to the cold, there are currently pandemics and lockdowns. For people without a roof over their heads, this situation is also extremely psychologically challenging. Many are unsure whether and where they can be outside during the day. In our emergency sleeping quarters, dormitories, shared flats and individual apartments, we not only provide a safe stay all day, but also appropriate support and social work advice, ”explains Christian Gaiseder, B37 managing director and spokesman for the Upper Austrian homeless person.
Offers throughout Upper Austria
In addition to the B37 in Linz, there are the Soziale Wohnservice Wels E37, the Verein Wohnen Steyr, the Notquartier Braunau, the Verein Sozialzentrum Vöcklabruck, the Verein Arge für Homeless, the Evangelische Stadt-Diakonie Linz, the Verein Wohnplattform, the Caritas of the Diocese of Linz and the social counseling centers of the state of Upper Austria contact points for homeless people and can be contacted by concerned citizens.
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