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, Frankfurt and Hamburg.

Each year, dozens of homeless people suffer frostbite, pneumonia and other health issues in Germany due to the cold winter temperatures. Some even die while sleeping rough on the streets of the country, among them migrants and refugees.

However, this doesn't have to be the case. There are many resources available throughout the country to take care of unhoused people, to provide them with resources to weather the weather — from food to clothing to a place to sleep.

Cologne, which has a population of more than 1 million, has an official population of unhoused people of at least 7,000. Some believe that number may even be greater than 10,000.

Here's a list of some valuable services available to unhoused people in Cologne:

• Cologne's local government pays close attention to providing a roof over the heads of homeless people — in particular during the winter months. In addition to receiving help at local police stations, unhoused people can go to Reso Dienst (social help) center in the borough of Kalk. For more information about the Reso center, please follow this link.
• The city government also organizes emergency overnight shelters, where in addition to a place to sleep there are also showers and washing machines. Officials at the facility are also able to help find a permanent place for homeless people to stay. Foreign nationals who are in Germany legally will also qualify for this kind of longterm support. More information is available here.
• The Catholic charity SKM also provides services to help people who are sleeping rough in and around Cologne. From providing overnight beds to giving away free clothing items, SKM tries to bring people from the street back into regular living conditions, with a particular focus on and expertise in helping people with drug addictions. There’s more on their website.
• Strassenwächter ("street guards") is a local charity taking care of unhoused people in central Cologne. Founded in 2005, the organization provides food, clothing and hygiene items to people living on the street. On certain dates, the group also sponsors free haircuts for the homeless. Learn more about Strassenwächter here.
• Another charity helping the unhoused community in Cologne is Helping Hands Cologne. The group provides food for those in need as well as sleeping bags and other necessities for those who wish to sleep rough, but want to keep warm. Most of their activities take place on the so-called "Dom Platte" — the large square located between Cologne's central train station and the city's famous cathedral, the Kölner Dom. For more information, please click on this link.
• The Kölner Arbeitslosenzentrum KALZ ("Cologne center for the unemployed") runs a soup kitchen near the city's central station, where everyone is welcome to have a free meal. Established in 1983, the organization tries to get people back into gainful employment as a means out of homelessness. In addition to food, the group also provides a comprehensive counseling program aimed at getting people back into work. Visit their website for more details.
• Gulliver is a project also managed by KALZ. The group focuses on meeting the various needs unhoused people have during the daytime. From providing lockers to leave their belongings to giving them a postal address for mail purposes, Gulliver tries to get homeless people off the streets. The organization also runs a local clothes bank and has a number of other resources available as well. Please visit their website for more information.
• Arche für Obdachlose ("arc for homeless people") focuses on the longterm return of unhoused individuals into more regular ways of living. The organization connects people with the resources they need to have a permanent abode again, and works closely with authorities to this end. If you need their help, please refer to this website.