Poverty, loneliness and homelessness make the holiday and festive season even more difficult for many. “For many people, the feast of love is a time when they feel that their difficulties are particularly acute”, Caritas Vienna Director, Klaus Schwertner, said in a statement today. Caritas therefore remains active during the Christmas season, for example with the telephone service “Plaudernetz”, which can be reached at 05 1776 100 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. even on public holidays. On Christmas Eve, the Gruft homeless shelter will provide a traditional Christmas dinner with classic Viennese cutlet and potato salad, as well as small gifts, to the guests. Caritas soup makers will also travel on public holidays and distribute hot meals. On 24 December, two heated rooms (Herz Jesu Sühnekirche Parish and Gemeinde Fünfhaus Methodist Evangelical Church) will also be opened in Vienna. “The heated rooms have become an important contact point for our guests during the cold season”, Mr Schwertner explained. In addition to the homeless, families and pensioners on minimum allowances also benefit from the offer. This winter, 42 parishes in the metropolitan area of Vienna are opening the doors of their premises as heated rooms with 1,250 volunteers on duty. Not only do they offer a warm place to retreat to, but also the opportunity to eat a meal and maintain social contacts. For the homeless, the Caritas toll-free number 01 480 45 53 is available 24 hours a day, and street work teams are on duty every day to provide people in need with sleeping bags and warm clothing or to take them to emergency shelters.