By Bjorn Trautwein
No beer, no brass band and still a good atmosphere. The Hofbräuhaus is now a day care center for the homeless.
Hot coffee instead of cold beer and advice instead of brass band music. The Hofbräuhaus am Alex has also been open to the homeless for a week. Tourists sit on the ground floor, while homeless people come to the first floor via a side entrance. Both are satisfied: Oans, zwoa, ghoiffa!
Peter (65) worked as a railway worker, now sleeps in a tent in the park: “There’s a lot of space here and the food is very good” Photo: Olaf Selchow
Kristoph (40) is one of the first to stand in line for food shortly after 10 a.m. “I was in prison until Christmas,” says the trained carpenter from Poland. “I was cheated out of my wages and I beat up the boss.” Now he has no apartment and is looking for a job. At least he can stay in the Hofbräuhaus during the day.
Up to 300 people sit or lie on the warm wooden benches between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. “But we also have room for more,” says Hofbräu Managing Director Björn Schwarz (50). There are few problems. Schwarz has hired a security guard, and seven social workers from the social agency “Gebewo” provide advice and care for the needy.
“We don’t make big money here, but we do something meaningful,” says Schwarz. “And the gratitude of the guests is very great. More than we usually experience here.”
Yaroslav and Wladimir fled to Berlin from the Ukraine and have no apartment Photo: Olaf Selchow
The day care center is financed from EU funds, around 30 euros per guest per day. Social Senator Katja Kipping (44th left), who visited the facility on Wednesday: “Homeless people also need a place to stay during the day. It’s great that this is possible and works here.” She emphasizes: “We have to do more for the homeless. We have increased the funds for this to 22.3 million euros in the coming year.”
Peter (65) sits right behind her. The Berlin railway worker lost his apartment four years ago because of rent arrears. “I sleep in the tent in the park and warm up here,” he says. “There’s a lot of space and the food is very good,” he praises the Hofbräuhaus.