From today, dormitories for homeless people will open in Prague in extended winter operation, over 500 people can sleep in them. In the winter months, capacity will also increase and the operating hours of low-threshold day centers will be extended.
Homeless people will also be able to get vaccinated against covid-19 in the facilities. How long the extended operation will last will depend on the weather, tentatively until about the end of March.
For this winter, the capacity of dormitories and facilities with all-day operation in Prague is 539 beds. For example, the non-profit organization Naděje will today open a dormitory with a capacity of 60 beds in Smíchov and a low-threshold night center in Michle. The Salvation Army will now operate the Kloubovy domy facility in Prague 9 for up to 40 people, which is intended mainly for the elderly and with chronic diseases. Up to 56 other people can sleep in a dormitory on Tusarova Street, where the Salvation Army also provides services.
Up to 180 homeless people can spend the night on the Hermes ship, where the city’s Prague Social Services Center (CSSP) offers services. The facility is open all year round, so far in November it was used by about 120 people a day. The CSSP dormitory for 88 people in the Michle heating plant complex has been open due to the freezing weather since last week. Prague also provides accommodation for up to 200 homeless people in rented hostels.
The intervention team will now also have access to the homeless, said CSSP director Martin Šimáček on Tuesday. The team will assist people, for example, in nursing in hospitals and offer them follow-up help in dormitories and hostels.
It is not possible to determine exactly how many homeless people there are in Prague now. Estimates are around 5,000 people, said Prague councilor Milena Johnová (Prague Sobě) on Tuesday. In connection with the covid-19 pandemic, people on the street are increasing and the number of people at risk of homelessness is increasing. (CTK)