Help in times of need

When young people find themselves in need and their situation seems desperate and hopeless, they need help and support—with as little red tape as possible.

Since its inception in 2001, the upstairs project has been offering young people in need a wide range of support. It is a donation-funded drop-in center in the Reisinger Anlagen in Wiesbaden and provides help in acute emergency situations. Services include first aid, counseling, clothing, food, transportation tickets, and—depending on availability—accommodation.

The upstairs team builds relationships with those seeking help and supports them in integrating into existing support systems, such as government agencies or the healthcare system. Young people who have suddenly become homeless or do not know how to move forward particularly need this support. Many of these young people hope that their situation will improve quickly – but often this is not the case. In Germany, there are around 32,000 street youths, most of whom hope to find a home again within a year. If they do not succeed, it becomes all the more difficult to escape the spiral of homelessness, unemployment, and violence. Timely help can change a whole life in such moments.