Caritas expands cooling refuges as extreme heat raises demand

Caritas opened emergency spaces at its cooling refuges this summer as extreme temperatures sharply increased demand for protection from the heat, ORF reported. The organisation provides the refuges for people affected by poverty and, in Vienna and Lower Austria, had 24 locations available.

People on low incomes often live in cramped, poorly insulated homes and may not be able to afford trips or air conditioning. Homeless people are particularly vulnerable, partly because fewer emergency accommodation places are available in summer.

Heat can cause dehydration, heatstroke, sunburn and circulatory problems, while worsening existing illnesses and open wounds. Insect bites also become a problem because they can become infected, and food spoils quickly in high temperatures.

The cooling refuges were set up in green spaces and in rooms provided by parishes. They received about 40 to 50 visitors per opening day and offered refreshments. The locations will remain available until the end of September, so a final total is not yet available. Last year, they recorded almost 6,380 visits between June and September and were staffed by about 500 volunteers this year.

Record temperatures in the east of Austria made additional measures necessary. On particularly hot days, when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, emergency cooling refuges were opened, including in cooler underground spaces. In Vienna, the crypts of Canisius Parish and St Peter’s Church opened their doors, while St Rochus Parish provided its church and cloister.

Caritas also expanded its mobile services. Its streetwork teams distributed heat packages containing, depending on individual needs, summer sleeping bags, sleeping mats, sunscreen, caps, cooling towels and drinking water.

Vienna Caritas director Klaus Schwertner told the Austrian Press Agency that preparations for next summer needed to begin immediately and suggested further expanding the assistance. He said the climate crisis was also a social crisis.

“More heat requires more help, so we will expand and develop our services as far as possible in the future,” Schwertner said.

He also called on politicians to act, saying Austria needed a national heat plan, affordable heat-resistant housing and more green spaces in cities. He said emergency accommodation places modelled on winter assistance would also be useful.