Homelessness among boys – the first young people use the new youth emergency shelter in Bern – News


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The new emergency shelter for young people in Bern has opened. The offer will be used after a few days. A woman who became homeless at the age of 14 and lived on the streets of Bern for years tells her story.

Pluto, that’s the name of the new youth night shelter in Bern. The new offer has been open since last Friday. The youth night shelter is open 365 nights a year.

Teenagers and young adults from the age of 14 can stay here for free. For example, if you are in a crisis situation and no longer have a safe place to sleep.

Several people take advantage of the offer shortly after it opens

A total of 7 beds are available every night. Just four nights after the opening, three young people have already used the new youth night shelter, says social worker Robert Sans.

The young person can come to us voluntarily and spontaneously. She can stay here for free, gets a hot meal and, if she wants, she can get advice.

The house on Studerstrasse in Bern’s Äussere Enge quarter is a 25-minute walk from the train station. Every night, two people work on site at the emergency shelter, a social worker and another trained supervisor, who give the young people professional advice if necessary and support them in their search for follow-up solutions.

Single rooms are designed to offer protection

In contrast to an emergency shelter for adults, where usually only shared rooms with simple bunk beds are available, there is an emergency shelter for young people Pluto only single and double rooms. You could say that: quite a luxury for an emergency shelter, right? “Yes,” says social worker Robert Sans: “If we have users who are affected by violence and sexualised violence, it is important to offer them a safe and protected place with a single room.”

In addition to a sheltered place to sleep, the young people also have the opportunity to shower, wash their clothes and eat. There is also a warm meal every evening and breakfast in the morning. It is important that users can move freely – without being forced, according to Sans.

The pilot project lasts 3 years. Cost: 2 million francs. It is financed by donations, foundations, the church and the public sector.

«I lived under a motorway bridge in Bern when I was 14 years old»

Mia* would like to remain anonymous. Today she is 19 years old. She became homeless at the age of 14. She lived alone on the streets in Bern for 5 years. After several hospital stays and conflicts at home, she couldn’t take it anymore, dropped out of school and ran away from home.

In the evening I stood at the train station in Bern – with a tent and sleeping bag and I thought: what now?

Then she looked for a place to sleep under a motorway bridge, Mia remembers: “I pitched the tent there and I had a few candles with me so that I had some light”.

5 years as a teenager alone on the street

That night turned into 5 years. Mia got the food by begging. Sometimes she stayed with colleagues, sometimes with strangers she met on the street when she was in need. Back then, emergency shelters in Bern were only for adults. At the time, Mia would have wished for an offer for young people.

Back then I would have wished for a place where I could have gone overnight.

Mia lived on the streets until she was 18, until she got pregnant. She has been living with her child in her own apartment for six months now and has support from social welfare. Mia wants to do an apprenticeship soon – she says: “I’m most interested in something in the real estate sector”.

(* Name known to editors.)

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