Kai Wegner visits "Place of Warmth" at Humboldt Forum

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• Visiting the Place of Warmth: Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner.

At temperatures of around 0 degrees, Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner visited the "Ort der Wärme" ("Place of Warmth") in the Humboldt Forum.

With up to 100 people a day, this service has become a permanent point of contact, according to a press release. People in need are provided with free hot drinks, small meals and a warm place to stay during the day.

"Social participation and human encounters"

Wegner thanked the volunteers and the Humboldt Forum. "The project is not just about warmth and food, but also about social participation and human encounters," said Wegner in Berlin. There is far too little living space in the city. Housing construction must be boosted in order to provide everyone with affordable living space. However, this would not happen overnight.

22,000 visits in the past two years

According to the Johanniter, the project is now in its third year. In total, the organization has recorded around 22,000 visits over the past two years. "The great popularity shows that the Place of Warmth has developed into a space for many people where they feel comfortable and can engage in conversation," said Christine Rieffel-Braune, Head of Administration at the foundation Humboldt Forum. The place of warmth is open Wednesdays to Sundays between 2 and 6 p.m. until the end of April.