Berlin restaurant closed because of COVID-19 offers food to city’s homeless

Berlin’s biggest restaurant is opening its doors to homeless people during COVID-19’s second wave.

The Hofbraeu Berlin was forced to close recently because of COVID restrictions.

The restaurant is offering free meals, a place to warm up and counselling for up to 150 homeless people per day, with funding from the city and two welfare organizations.

Hofbraeu manager Bjoern Schwarz says it’s a win-win scenario. He’s helping out the homeless and getting enough income to keep the restaurant afloat.

Several thousand homeless people live in the German capital and they are struggling
even more than before the pandemic.

There are fewer places in shelters because of distancing and hygiene measures and
less money to be made panhandling because there are fewer people outside.