Heat leaves homeless people in Munich searching for shade

People living on the streets face particular risks during Munich’s prolonged spell of temperatures above 30 degrees, BR reported. Without a private place to retreat, they must find water and suitable areas of shade outdoors.

Johannes Kapauf, a social worker at the Caritas D3 support centre near Munich Central Station, makes weekly rounds to provide homeless people with water, snacks and sun hats. The service is known as outreach work.

Some homeless people seek shelter in the small wooded area behind Munich’s Glyptothek near Königsplatz. They describe moving from one bench to another as the sun shifts, in what one person called a game of cat and mouse. Kapauf also helps people find cooler places when necessary.

He encounters many people who are heavily intoxicated. Alcohol can contribute to severe dehydration and make it harder for people to assess their own physical condition, he said. Treating wounds and injuries is also more difficult in the heat.

A count commissioned by the City of Munich in 2023 estimated that about 340 people were living on the streets. The number fluctuates seasonally, and previous counts have reached around 550. With housing scarce and rents high in Munich, people who become homeless often struggle to find a way back into housing.

The city points to an extensive support system for homeless people and says there are sufficient services. Providers of support for homeless people have not reported any gaps in care, according to the city.

At the D3 centre on Dachauer Straße, people can drink water, stay indoors and receive advice. Up to 250 people visit each day, supported by 15 full-time and 11 voluntary staff. Washing facilities are available, but capacity does not allow every visitor to shower daily. Two other day centres also offer chilled drinks, showers and places to stay.

Up to 728 overnight places are available at one large facility, alongside smaller shelters such as Haus an der Pilgersheimer Straße for men and Karla 51 for women, as well as numerous advice centres.

Social workers say an overnight bed does not solve the problem during the day. Not everyone living on the streets wants to use a facility or is able to do so. Some people are also removed from places where they have been staying, including recently from the Old Botanical Garden, while alcohol bans apply in many locations.

Kapauf said he favours the Housing First approach, under which people receive housing first and then get help organising their lives. In this model, they do not have to prove their so-called ability to live independently before receiving a home, but they must be free of addiction and open to counselling.

Until then, many homeless people in Munich remain dependent on existing services and outreach workers. During periods of extreme heat, their immediate priorities remain finding water and a shaded place to stay.