Caritas Cold Weather Phones in Action: Help for the Homeless in Freezing Temperatures

The aid organization calls for special attention to be paid to the homeless now. "A call to the cold weather hotline can be the first step in saving a person's life," said Caritas President Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler.

Anyone who notices a person lying on the street in the cold should approach them and ask if help is needed, informed Caritas. Through the Caritas cold weather hotlines, which have different numbers depending on the region, street workers can be contacted. Social workers and doctors in the mobile street work teams help with food packages, blankets, or sleeping bags and can also provide initial medical and psychological first aid.

The winter emergency shelters offer a warm place to sleep, and in the warming rooms and day centers, people can warm up during the day and receive a hot meal. "The lower the temperatures, the more important the help for those affected becomes," said the Caritas head.

Caritas Cold Weather Hotline and Winter Emergency Aid: Contact Options Throughout Austria

Vienna: Caritas Vienna Cold Weather Hotline: 01/4804-553 - 0:00-24:00, October 29 to April 29

Burgenland: Caritas Burgenland Cold Weather Hotline: 0676/8373-0322 - 08:00-22:00, November 1 to March 31

Styria: Caritas Styria Cold Weather Hotline: 0676/8801-58111 - 18:00-24:00, November 11 to March 31

Carinthia: Cold Phone Caritas Carinthia: 0463/3960-60 - 18:00-06:00, November 1 to March 31

Salzburg: Cold Phone Caritas Salzburg: 0676/8482-10651 - 0:00-24:00, November 1 to March 31

Tyrol: Cold Phone: 0512/2144-7 (TSD - Tyrolean Social Services GMBH) - 0:00-24:00, November 1 to April 30

Vorarlberg: Caritas Center Feldkirch: 05522/200-1700 - 08:00-12:00 (Mon-Fri), Emergency Shelter at Jahnplatz 4 in Feldkirch: 05522/200-1200 - 18:30-08:00, Caritas Café 05522/200-1570 - 08:30-16:30 (Mon-Fri), 08:30-12:00 (Sat)

Upper Austria: Cold Phone for the Linz city area - Social Association B37 - OBST 0732/7767-67560, Email: linzer-kaeltetelefon(at)b37.at - 10:00-12:00 (Tue, Thu) - November 1 to March 31, outside the mentioned times an answering machine is active. Emails can always be sent.

Lower Austria: No Cold Phone! Emergency shelters are available in St. Pölten (Emmaus) and Wr. Neustadt (Association for Social Care South and VBO)

(APA/Red)

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