Argentina ramps up winter aid for homeless and low‑income families

The Province of Santa Fe and the city of Rosario launched a special winter operation to protect people experiencing homelessness from severe cold. Coordinated with municipal authorities, civil protection, volunteer firefighters and NGOs, the effort distributed around 800 hot meals, blankets, warm clothing and winter kits at key points such as Plaza Sarmiento and the Mariano Moreno bus terminal. The provincial secretary of Inclusion Policies cited the governor’s decision to expand state presence during extreme temperatures, and local shelters received additional volunteers to transport people to safe locations.

In San Rafael, social organisations reported a sharp rise in demand for food during the cold spell. The cooperative Madres Cocinando, which runs a dining hall and two soup kitchens for about 150 families, shifted its service to provide hot meals at night and continued producing blankets from donated clothing, while postponing a stove‑building project. Both initiatives highlight a broader regional response to heightened winter needs across Argentina.