The Winter Action programme, providing emergency shelter for homeless people, closed its doors in mid-April after five months of operation.
For many affected individuals, this closure means a harsh return to life on the streets. Although the initiative is designed only to protect people from the cold, for a large number it remains the only available shelter. As a result, several organisations working in the field are calling for more long-term solutions to address homelessness.
Since the closure of the Winter Action two weeks ago, many are once again facing the brutal reality of street life.
Linda Mulligan is one of those impacted. She explained that her situation started when her ex-partner lost his job, leading to the loss of their home and ultimately forcing her to seek shelter with Winter Action. Mulligan spent 12 weeks in the facility and was one of over 300 people who relied on the initiative over the past five months.
Now, she says, she finds herself with nothing: no money and no stable place to stay. Although she appreciates the support she received, including a bed and meals provided by the staff and volunteers, she expressed frustration at being given numbers to call for assistance, only to find no one answering. Mulligan added that while grateful for the kindness she experienced, it is painful to see everyone turned out without knowing where to go next.
With the arrival of spring, political attention also tends to wane, criticised the association “Solidarity with Beggars”. The risk of ending up on the streets is growing, with Luxembourg recording an average of 15 evictions per month.
Guy Foetz from the association pointed out that Luxembourg lacks reliable statistics regarding emergency housing. He noted that waiting lists for shelter beds are extremely long, often stretching for months, and stressed another major hurdle: people must have an official address in Luxembourg to even access basic services like medical help.
He added that once someone falls onto the streets, there are few services available to them, particularly when it comes to basics like warm meals in the evening or on weekends, or facilities for hygiene such as showers – which, he said, are practically non-existent in Luxembourg City.
According to the Ministry of Family Affairs, the number of homeless people is growing by around 6–7% each year. Recent surveys identified over 300 individuals living rough in Luxembourg City and Esch, although figures from rural areas are harder to capture. To tackle the rise in homelessness, the Ministry is currently working on an action plan, explained Family Minister Max Hahn.
Hahn highlighted that new structures are being developed not only to offer beds but also to provide ongoing support to help people achieve long-term stability. He also stressed the importance of the “housing first” approach, which aims to give people who are legally entitled to reside in Luxembourg the stability they need.
Currently, Luxembourg offers 46 “housing first” apartments. These homes are intended to help people without shelter reintegrate into society with support services. However, the Ministry admits that finding available housing remains a challenge.
