Luxembourg’s Wanteraktioun (WAK) emergency shelter is providing a lifeline for people on the country’s streets in the cold winter months.
The centre, located in Findel near the airport, provides temporary accommodation, hot meals, access to sanitary facilities and other support services for people without a permanent home. Around 300 beds are available at the shelter which runs from 15 November 2025 to 15 April 2026.
Since opening in November up to 170 people have been going there every day, the family affairs ministry told the Luxemburger Wort. Three charities have been running the shelter since 2021.
Journalists are not allowed to access to the site, nor take photographs inside. But almost 20 people passed the reporter outside the centre around lunch time, mostly men hurrying past with eyes averted carrying belongings in backpacks or plastic bags.
Only two women passed the reporter but hurried past and refused to say more than “hello”.
Pavel from Romania decided to speak to the reporter. He arrived recently in the Grand Duchy from Germany to try build a better life, but has been homeless for four months.
“I came to Luxembourg to find work. I haven’t succeeded so far, so my only option is the street,” he told the Luxemburger Wort. “It’s tough at the moment, it’s getting cold.”
He is only allowed to stay in the shelter for three nights as he does not meet requirements imposed last year, under which he needs to prove he has been living in Luxembourg for at least three months to stay there long-term.
Pavel left his home country of Romania in search of a better life. But he hasn’t been able to find work in Luxembourg. He is only allowed to stay at the shelter for three nights © Photo credit: Christophe Olinger
However, Family Minister Max Hahn told the Luxemburger Wort in 2024 that nobody would be turned away in sub-zero temperatures.
A report on the shelter for the 2024/2025 winter is set to analyse this new measure, but it has been delayed and it is not clear when the report will be released.
There are 300 beds available at the centre © Photo credit: Christophe Olinger
Pavel now has to look for another place to stay and said he will “probably just walk about to stay warm”. He used to have a wife and children in Romania but didn’t give any details on how he ended up on Luxembourg’s streets.
“Life on the streets is very hard,” the 49-year-old added. His bag was stolen and he said he has “nothing left”.
Moufida, 67, moved to Luxembourg three months ago wanting to spend her retirement in the country. She is not homeless but struggles financially and went to the shelter for a hot meal with a friend.
67-year-old Moufida meets a friend for a meal at the shelter © Photo credit: Christophe Olinger
“I’m in poor health and have been through a lot. It’s not easy for anyone, but that’s the way it is,” she said.
Over the last winter the Wanteraktioun served almost 18,200 hot lunches to around 1,400 at the day centre and distributed 1,670 items of clothing. During the evening the centre served more than 57,000 meals to more than 1,900 homeless people.