Health care for Homeless People
In November 2020, the Leipzig City Council decided to fund the project “low-threshhold Care for homeless people” and commissioned the association CABL e.V. with its implementation. The core of the project is to establish regular consultation hours in Leipzig’s overnight shelters and day centres, where medical care is provided by volunteer doctors. The aim of the new project is not only to provide low-threshold access to medical care for those affected, but also to find long-term solutions for improved health care for homeless people in the Leipzig area – for example, by referring them to regular care.
Outreach Medical Care
At the beginning of 2024, the UVO project was expanded to include outreach services using the Medibus. The Medibus is a converted ambulance provided by the City of Leipzig. It offers affected individuals low-threshold access to medical advice and treatment from our medical staff.
Outreach medical care is available on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. at the main train station and, upon request, throughout the entire city area; on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Koehlerstraße/Dresdner Straße and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the main train station; and on Sundays from 8:00 p.m. at the main train station.
During our service hours, we regularly cooperate in an interdisciplinary manner with other support services, such as street outreach work, addiction services, and the social psychiatric service.
Medical consultation hours for homeless people:
Day Center INSEL
Plautstraße 18, 04179 Leipzig
Contact: +49 341 246 766 55
→ by request only
Day Center OASE
Nürnberger Straße 31, 04103 Leipzig
Mondays 3:00–4:00 p.m. – nursing consultation
Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. – medical consultation
Contact: +49 341 268 26 70
Emergency Overnight Shelter for Homeless Men
Rückmarsdorfer Str. 5–7, 04179 Leipzig
Thursdays 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Contact: +49 341 123-4504
→ please register in advance!
Emergency Overnight Shelter for Homeless Men
Helenenstraße 26, 04275 Leipzig
Mondays 8:00–9:00 p.m. → every two weeks & only with prior registration!
Wednesdays 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Contact: +49 151 4206 8280
Overnight Shelter for Homeless Women
Scharnhorststraße 27, 04275 Leipzig
Contact: +49 341 58 52 413
→ by request only
Alternative I
Chopinstraße 13, 04103 Leipzig
Wednesdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Contact: +49 341 913560
Alternative III
Braunstraße 28a, 04347 Leipzig
Mondays 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Contact: +49 341 30879740
→ only for users of the facility
Background:
The health condition of people without a permanent residence is often poor. At the same time, homeless people in particular have difficult access to regular medical care. One reason is the lack of low-threshold and centrally located services. The fear of being rejected can prevent people from seeing a doctor for existing complaints. In addition, access to medical care is largely blocked for homeless people who do not have valid insurance coverage. The experience of various street social workers in Leipzig shows that for these reasons it is hardly possible, for example, to treat minor wounds and initially minor illnesses in time. This leads to unnecessary aggravation of complaints. Acute emergencies or chronic illnesses can be the result. Initial medical contact often only occurs through emergency hospitalization. In addition, further post-inpatient outpatient care may be necessary after discharge from hospital.
