The cold winter weather makes it difficult for homeless people around the country. This is confirmed by several organizations that TV4 Nyheterna has been in contact with.
Jimmy Wallenstein from Falköping has spent many cold nights in basements and stairwells this winter.
– It hasn’t been so fun, hard and cold, he says.
It’s fifteen degrees cold when Jimmy Wallenstein comes to the Hela människan day business in Falköping to have breakfast. He has been without a place of his own on and off for several years, but the severe cold has made this winter particularly difficult.
– I have mostly slept with friends, but also in stairwells and basements.
Here he can eat his fill and warm himself together with others in the same situation. Last night he slept in a cold stairwell.
– I’m alive, so I survive. But I think the municipality could do more.
What do you want help with?
– Shelter. There are a lot of apartments empty.
High pressure this winter
Today there were around 20 visitors, significantly more than usual, to the open day activity in Falköping. The whole person is run by several churches in collaboration and has activities for, among other things, the homeless in 60 locations throughout the country.
– This winter we have been extra employed by people in need. Partly because it has been very cold, the colder it gets, the more people want to get into the warmth. So the pressure has increased, it absolutely has, says Samuel Johansson, who is director of Hela människan in Falköping.
Many shelters and day activities for the homeless around the country testify that there are more people who have applied to them during the recent cold snap.
Two nights in a hostel
Jimmy, who is struggling to stay drug-free, hopes to eventually get his own apartment. During the visit today, he receives a call that at least resolves the emergency situation.
– I was granted a hostel for two nights, so that was good.
How does it feel?
– It feels good to know that you have a warm bed. It feels safe. If you take care of it, maybe there will be more, I hope.