Alone on Army Beds: Homeless Seek Refuge in Church - Frankfurt church offers homeless men warmth and hope this winter
A small church in Frankfurt’s Bahnhofsviertel district is giving homeless people a warm place to sleep during the cold winter months. Every night from October to March, up to 47 men find shelter there, with blankets, tea, and a cot for the night. For many, like 23-year-old Robi from Romania, it’s more than just a roof—it’s a lifeline.
The shelter, run by Caritas Frankfurt at Baseler Straße 29, opens its doors when temperatures drop. It’s one of the few places in the city offering emergency accommodation for those sleeping rough. In mid-January, Frankfurt recorded nearly 300 homeless people, with 66 still spending nights outside.
Robi arrived in Germany with little more than two suitcases—one holds a sleeping bag, blankets, and a box of chocolate pralines. He misses his family back in Romania but can’t afford the trip home. Without a fixed address, finding work is nearly impossible, leaving him trapped in a cycle of uncertainty. For others, the church provides more than just warmth. Valeri, a Bulgarian man, calls it a 'special place of protection', a rare sense of safety and community. Fortes Erikson, a 34-year-old from Cape Verde, comes here hoping for work, while the shelter’s staff offer what support they can. Currently, only men use this location, as women have access to separate facilities elsewhere in the city. Without stable housing, many homeless people struggle to secure jobs, pushing some toward drug addiction. The church’s night shelter, open until March, remains a critical refuge for those with nowhere else to go.
The shelter continues to operate through the winter, giving dozens of men a temporary escape from the cold. For Robi, Valeri, and others, it’s a place of rest—though their long-term futures remain uncertain. With no permanent solution in sight, the church’s work fills a vital gap in Frankfurt’s support for the homeless.
