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BVG Rules Out Overnight Station Shelters As Deep Freeze Strains Berlin Homeless Services

Advocates warn that refusals at full shelters can be life‑threatening, demanding 24‑hour access.

Overview

  • Berlin providers report roughly 1,100 emergency beds filling nightly, with people turned away in this week’s cold snap.
  • Berliner Stadtmission is opening a temporary night café at Bahnhof Zoo from Friday through Monday for up to 50 people.
  • Outreach intensifies with three Kältebusse and two Wärmebusse distributing hot food, supplies, and offering rides to shelter.
  • BVG cites safety risks in rejecting so‑called cold stations, while instructing staff to act with sensitivity and avoid blanket evictions.
  • Die Linke urges the use of vacant offices and U‑Bahnhöfe, NRW homelessness groups call for 24/7 openings, and BSR readies 2,300 staff with 540 vehicles for round‑the‑clock winter service.