Stuttgart experiences a 30-degree ride on the DRK heat bus, deemed "exceptionally hot".
In the heart of Stuttgart, a unique mobile service is making a difference for those most in need. Known as the heat bus, this low-threshold aid offer is providing essential support to homeless and needy individuals, including older people and children, during the city's sweltering heatwaves.
Operating from a temperature of 30 degrees and driving through the entire Stuttgart area between 13 and 17 o'clock, the heat bus offers a much-needed respite from the scorching temperatures that often reach 38 degrees. Run by the Youth and Social Affairs department at the German Red Cross in Stuttgart, the heat bus is an initiative led by Carolin Goetz, who is responsible for the city's heat buses.
The heat bus meets an average of 80 people per deployment, offering them bottled water and other basic necessities. As of this year, the heat bus has distributed almost 2,000 bottles of water, a testament to the large need for its services. Many people living in small attic apartments, on the streets, or without air conditioning are particularly vulnerable during heatwaves.
Carolin Goetz predicts that the need for the heat bus services will increase in the future, as the city's homeless population and those experiencing extreme financial hardship continue to grow. For now, the employees of the heat bus focus on people living on the streets, providing them with much-needed aid and support.
While specific details about Stuttgart’s heat bus services, water distribution, and target groups can be found on the city's official social services websites, local NGOs focused on homelessness, or recent local news reports, it's clear that the heat bus is making a significant impact in the lives of those it serves.
For those interested in learning more about Stuttgart's heat bus or getting involved, consulting these resources can provide a wealth of information and opportunities to contribute to this vital service.
- By collaborating with local NGOs and city officials, Carolin Goetz, the head of Stuttgart's heat bus, aims to integrate health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition education into their services to offer a holistic approach to improving the well-being of the homeless and needy individuals they serve.
- In the future, Carolin Goetz envisions the heat bus expanding its services beyond essential support, including implementing science-based programs for health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, to empower the homeless population and promote self-sufficiency.
