Döbling helps: Warming rooms for those in need in the cold season!

Döbling helps: Warming rooms for those in need in the cold season!

On the hunt for warmth and security: In Vienna, the parish of Franz von Sales in Döbling is once again making sure that no one has to freeze alone in the cold season. Under the leadership of Caritas representative Ramona Langthaler, various activities are launched to strengthen cohesion in the community and offer support to people in need. As meinkreis.at reported, the warming rooms in the municipalities Glanzing and Krim have already opened their doors and welcome everyone who is looking for a warm place.

Winter can be a hard time for many people in Vienna, especially for the homeless and socially vulnerable groups such as minimum pensioners and single parents. Not only are warm meals and tea available in the warming rooms, the feeling of being seen and not alone also plays a crucial role. The Glanzing warming room, located at Krottenbachstrasse 12, is open every Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. In Krim, at Pater-Zeininger-Platz 1, the heaters are also in operation on Saturdays, December 20th, January 24th and February 21st, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Effectiveness of warming rooms

Providing such warming rooms is an important contribution to meeting basic needs such as food, drink and companionship. The ecumenical warming room is an example of how these offers of help work in Vienna. It not only ensures warm rooms, but also an atmosphere of well-being. People often stand in the cold waiting to be allowed in. A clever entry system makes access easier and helps those seeking help to quickly find their way around the room, as Caritas Nürnberg also describes. Showers and washing facilities are also provided there, providing people with additional dignity and comfort.

A holistic approach is important. As [Caritas Vienna](https://www.caritas-wien.at/ueber-uns/news-presse/information/news/96371-caritas-startet-winternothilfe-fuer-obdachlose-menschen-mit-kaeltetelefon-und-mehr- Schlafplaetzen/) explains, Caritas has already provided 1,880 accommodation places in emergency sleeping centers and residential buildings. In order to meet the increasing demand, 134 additional emergency accommodation places were opened. The winter mode, which activates various support measures, also includes a 24-hour cold hotline, available since October 29, giving people a point of contact to get help.

Together against the cold

The help offered as part of the cold relief program offers even more: over 40 warming rooms have been installed in collaboration with various parishes in Vienna and Lower Austria, and more than 1,000 volunteers provide active support. Caritas also offers special warming rooms for women, which, in addition to physical warmth, also cater to the needs of mothers, including child care and hygiene products.

Anyone who would like to help can contact the parish by email or find out about fundraising campaigns on the Caritas website. The cold relief depends on the support of the community, and every contribution counts in order to maintain the offers of help and to bring the homeless a little warmth in the winter months.