Winter homelessness support in Germany and Austria

As temperatures drop, municipal and charitable organizations in Germany and Austria are expanding emergency services for homeless populations.

In Hamburg, the city is reactivating a winter emergency program running from November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The initiative will provide approximately 1,100 beds through municipal sites, church communities, and universities. A new requirement for the program is mandatory social counseling, which participants must undergo after a maximum of three nights to address long-term housing and social benefits. The program also offers medical care, meals, and dedicated protected spaces for women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

In Munich, the association Horizont e.V., founded by actress Jutta Speidel in 1997, has opened a third facility specifically to support homeless women and children, emphasizing the need for a secure home as a place of peace and protection.

Münster is also activating its winter emergency aid starting November 1. The city will provide 70 additional sleeping spaces in containers at the Caspar-Hessel-Gelände, managed by staff from the Bischof-Herrmann-Stiftung and Caritas. Social Department Head Cornelia Wilkens has urged citizens to report individuals sleeping outdoors in freezing temperatures. Additionally, the Bahnhofsmission in Münster continues to serve approximately 200 people daily with free food.

In Vienna, Caritas is launching its winter emergency aid by increasing streetwork services and reactivating a cold hotline known as the ‘Kältetelefon’. Through a collaboration with Fonds Soziales Wien, Caritas is adding 70 new shelter spots to its existing capacity of 1,890 accommodation places.