Homelessness: Poland wants to help Polish homeless in Berlin

In the capital there are more and more homeless, more than half come from Eastern Europe. The Polish embassy announces the desire to finance social workers.

Homelessness: Poland wants to help Polish homeless in Berlin

Due to growing number of Eastern European homeless people on streets of Berlin, Polish government wants to finance social workers in German capital in future. "In coming year, Polish money will help social workers in Berlin to visit Poland in distress and advise m," said Dariusz Pawlos, press attaché of Polish Embassy. He estimated that more than 2,000 Polish homeless people live in Berlin.

It is unclear, however, when and how many social workers are used. According to Pawlos, experts paid by Polish agents are said to "communicate with homeless people and help or go home." The Polish Ambassador Andrzej Przyłębski take topic "very seriously". Discussions were also planned with Berlin Senate.

The number of homeless and unemployed has been rising in Berlin for years. Currently, authorities bring nearly 31,000 homeless people under. Foreigners, such housing aid is only available in individual cases. The same is true for addiction assistance offers. There are more than half of 6,000 homeless in capital of Eastern Europe.

The Berlin Senate plans for winter 1,000 notübernachtungs places. "If y do not suffice, we will not let people freeze on street," said Social Senator Elke Breitenbach (left) in House of Deputies. Previous discussions of Senate with embassies of Eastern European states have remained unprofitable according to information provided by Breitenbach's spokeswoman. After Polish citizens, Romanians and Bulgarians form largest groups of Eastern European homeless people in Berlin. But ir messages did not want to comment on subject.

Most do not want to go back to Poland

Polish media are also increasingly reporting on conditions in Berlin. The state budget for foreign Poles was increased and opened for social work, said press attaché Pawlos. The Polish Foundation Barka will be looking for partner organisations in Berlin to help homeless poles. The embassy recommend Barka clubs Klik and Gangway.

"That we are called as an organization is first of all positive," said Alexandra Post, member of Klik management. The club takes care of young homeless people, most of m poles. "The only thing embassy has done for us so far is annual donations of toiletries such as razors and detergents." The advice on homecoming opportunities could be an offer for people who still have references to Poland. However, Swiss Post agrees with Pawlos that most homeless poles do not want to go home – be it out of shame or because re are neir families nor prospects waiting in ir homeland.

On Tuesday, Federal Association homeless Help (BAGW) informed that 2016 in Germany 860,000 people lived without a fixed apartment. The number of people living on street has also risen by a third to about 52,000 since 2014. Among m are disproportionately many EU foreigners: especially in metropolis ir share among homeless according to BAGW is up to 50 percent.

Date Of Update: 17 November 2017, 12:03
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