Warming room Salzburg: A place to warm up body and soul
The Salzburger Wärmestube expects a further increase in the coming months. Especially in the cold season, the demand for a place to warm up and a hot meal is very high.
SALZBURG. A breakfast, a hot lunch, clothing and a chance to warm up. This is what the Salzburg Warming Room on Ignaz-Harrer-Strasse offers to people in need right next to the Christian-Doppler-Klinik.
Social contacts against loneliness
In addition to a free meal, homeless or needy people will also find a place to meet, social contacts and a feeling of warmth. “We see ourselves as a place to eat and as a meeting place. Many come here regularly, have breakfast here and then chat with others. You can really see how important this social anchor is for many, and not just to get a warm meal , but also against loneliness. To warm up body and soul,” explains Johannes Orsini-Rosenberg, chairman of the warming room.
Busy towards the end of the month
The warming room is open every Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday. There is always a lot going on, especially on the weekends. “On average, between 60 and 140 meals are served per day, mostly at the weekend. And from the middle of the month you notice a gradual increase in food expenses, because many people are running out of money towards the end of the month,” says Orsini-Rosenberg. Several warm soups, various pasta dishes, salads and stews are served, prepared by the chef in the warming room.
A medical service has also been offered for around three weeks: every 14 days on a Saturday, a doctor from Salzburg comes to the warming room. “It was very well received the first time. People can go there in a very low-threshold way if they have complaints or need medical advice,” says the heat room chairman.
Job loss, divorce, home loss
Most of the people who come to the warming room are between 40 and 60 years old and have very different life stories. “There are many who die because of a personal blow of fate, job loss, divorce and the loss of the shared apartment,” explains Orsini-Rosenberg.
The rush and the frequency in the warming room have been increasing for some time. “Prices are rising, many have to save on heating and food and then come here because the money is simply not enough.”
“Helping is essential”
In the warming room one is dependent on private donations, fortunately the willingness to donate is still high among the people of Salzburg, describes Orsini-Rosenberg. “In a society, it’s not just about doing well for yourself, it has to do well for others too. Sharing is the be-all and end-all and helping one another is something very essential in a society,” he emphasizes.
In the cold season, winter jackets for women and men are currently in particularly high demand. In the warming room, a further increase is expected in the coming months. “We assume that due to the rise in prices in January and February, more people will come to us,” says Orsini-Rosenberg. A small Christmas party is planned for Christmas Eve in the warming room, which is also open on December 25th and 26th. “On these days, a particularly warm wake-up is important for both body and soul,” adds Orsini-Rosenberg.
You can read a report with Caritas Salzburg on the subject of inflation here:
“Costs are no longer manageable for many people”