Unlocking a Locked Situation: It's Not a Key, Yet It Serves a Lock's Purpose.
Breaking the Shackles, One Lockbox at a Time!
Embrace the rejoicing, but remember it's a necessary evil, quips Social Affairs Councilor Hannes Rehfeldt (CDU). He's talking about the new cabinet-sized sanctuaries for the homeless in Berlin's Neukölln district, installed at Teupitzer Straße 22, now accessible to the public.
For those making the streets their homes, valuables like a warm sleeping bag or vital documents aren't usually secure. Men and women on the street often become victims of street crime, forced to drag their entire lives with them.
Berlin's Senate is pioneering low-barrier storage options for the first time, with more locations scheduled in the future. Located on the grounds of the non-profit Kubus gGmbH, these lockboxes mimic package stations. Some are mini, perfect for papers, while others accommodate a backpack. All boast charging for smartphones, thanks to Home & Care Nothilfe GmbH's input.
With these bolstering stations in Neukölln, the Senate covers the costs, breaking from the tradition of donation-funded lockboxes at Märkisches Viertel and Hafenplatz in Berlin. The lockboxes are Austrian-made by Variocube.
These lockboxes are totally free and keypad-protected. Forgot your PIN? No worries. A photo and name back-up is in order. "We don't check the name," explains Thomas Mertens, adding that they intentionally avoided phone or QR-based accessibility, as it would necessitate a mobile device, which isn't always readily available.
Monitoring these boxes is unremitting from the company's base near Dortmund, ensuring no illegal goods (such as drugs or perishable food) are being stored, and the users don't necessarily need to legitimize themselves, but must allow the company the freedom to open their lockbox at any given time.
With 250,000 euros from Berlin's coffers, the lockboxes in Neukölln are making headlines, attracting praise from Councilor Rehfeldt. "Without city funds, this wouldn't have been feasible," he notes.
However, these lockboxes are just a step in the right direction, not the definitive solution to homelessness. As Rehfeldt puts it, "It's a reason to celebrate that they exist, but also not a reason we need them."
Besides the lockboxes, Neukölln has introduced another transitional solution—12 "living boxes" under the watchful eye of a social worker. Rehfeldt shares, "Many of those now provided homes have healthcare coverage for the first time." More such solutions are on the horizon.
Located on the same property, these lockboxes neighbor a soup kitchen, clothing exchange, cold weather shelter, and now, the new heat relief point. Though mild temperatures and promotional efforts are low key, the heat relief already hosts about ten daily visitors, according to Gernot Zessin of Kubus gGmbH. The suggestion for follow-up sleeping facilities is under debate, and year-round emergency shelters make for a bigger conversation.
In the grand scheme of things, lockboxes may not be the long-term answer, but they're a promising stepping stone in Berlin's battle against homelessness.
Stay tuned for more updates on Berlin, the city that never sleeps.
These lockboxes, reminiscent of package stations, are a promising addition to the home-and-garden landscape of Neukölln, serving as low-barrier storage solutions for the homeless.
*With the installation of these lockboxes, Berlin's lifestyle is undergoing a transformation, providing a safer environment for those living on the streets, and marking a significant step forward in the city's effort to combat homelessness.
