18 January 2024
While the weather brought much of the country to a standstill yesterday, Red Cross social workers continued their work with the homeless with heightened vigilance. We joined a team of streetworkers on this icy day, here is our report in pictures, a snapshot of their work in the streets.
While a large proportion of the population stayed at home, warm and cosy, unfortunately the people living on the streets had no such option.
Red Cross streetworkers were out in force from early morning to meet those who are homeless or in precarious situations.
During a second round at the beginning of the afternoon, Sara Fernandes and Andrea Prevost first met with Joao and Rosa (first names changed), a Portuguese couple who had taken shelter in the entrance of a building undergoing renovation.
With blankets hung on a Véloh as a shelter, they are protecting themselves from the cold and hoping to make it through the night.
A little further away, the two social workers met Dave. The 50-year-old Luxembourg native had come to meet friends who are on the streets.
A former roofer, Dave found himself in a difficult situation after a serious accident at work. He remained positive despite the freezing rain.
Tonight he will have a warm, dry bed in a housing facility in the city.
Sara and Andrea then continued their walk through the deserted streets, taking care not to slip on the icy patches.
Thanks to the exceptional extension of opening hours at the Wanteraktioun and other facilities for homeless people, they encountered fewer people than usual.
The Nightshelter, a place of refuge where people can rest, warm up, wash their clothes or have a snack, extended its opening hours throughout the day.
« We know the people living on the streets very well. We can offer them a hot soup or a shared coffee at the bistrot social. Whenever possible, we refer them to housing facilities. When it’s so cold, the streets are even more dangerous. »
Sara Fernandes, streetworker at the Luxembourg Red Cross