These sleeping pads, blankets, and pillow on shelves in a Kältebus (cold bus) will go to homeless people in need | Photo: Sascha Thelen/dpa/picture alliance
These sleeping pads, blankets, and pillow on shelves in a Kältebus (cold bus) will go to homeless people in need | Photo: Sascha Thelen/dpa/picture alliance

With winter well underway and temperatures falling below zero, unhoused people, including migrants and refugees, are at greater risk of suffering hypothermia, pneumonia and even death. Here's how to stay warm in Frankfurt if you find yourself unhoused this winter.

This article is part of an InfoMigrants series detailing how unhoused migrants can stay safe throughout the winter in Germany's largest cities. The other articles in our series cover Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne.

In Germany's fifth-largest city Frankfurt, those without a permanent roof over their head can get support from a variety of services to safely get through the winter:

  • The Kältebus (cold bus) brings homeless people to accommodations upon request. The vehicle also brings blankets, sleeping bags and warm tea. It can be reached under 069-431414. Check out their website for more information.
  • Safe space for women: At the day-care center 'Lisbethtreff', homeless women or those at risk of losing their home can meet other women, rest, shower and wash their clothes, among other things. It is located at Affentorplatz 1.
  • Two other day-care centers -- Bärenstraße and Avetorstubb -- cater to women and men alike and offer similar services, including warm meals. The Bärenstraße facility also has 30 places to stay as part of Frankfurt's 'help in winter' project.
  • In the center for homeless people (CASA 21), people in need can receive advice on financial matters, help with securing their livelihoods, i.e. ensuring basic material supplies, integrated debt counseling, advice on alcohol/addiction and other services.
  • The 'Tagestreff 17 Ost' offers social counselling, food and water as well as ten sleep spots for women in need of protection against the cold. Its location is Alfred-Brehm-Platz 15.
  • Overnight emergency accommodation facilities Ostpark and Eschenheimer Tor have 200 year-round overnight places and up to 200 sleep spots in winter, respectively.
  • Those looking for day stay can turn to tea room Jona, where people can receive social counseling as well as drinks and food.

On its website, Caritas Frankfurt provides a variety of information for homeless people including advice centers and medical care.