Today, more than 18% of Luxembourg residents live below the poverty line according to RTL, and COVID-19 has further exacerbated poverty and social exclusion. As part of our donation to Stëmm vun der Strooss, we visited their social restaurant. During the socially distanced tour of their facilities, Arnaud Watelet, Finance and Administrative Director, and Claude Consdorf, Responsible for the Hollerich Clothing Recycling Workshop, sat down with us to discuss how the pandemic had affected their activities and how their teams adapted to meet a rapidly increasing demand.
LuxSE's CSR Manager visits Stëmm's social restaurant with Arnaud Watelet, Finance and Administrative Director and Claude Consdorf, Responsible for the Hollerich Clothing Recycling Workshop
Could you tell us a little bit more about Stëmm vun der Strooss?
A: We welcome and support the disadvantaged: homeless, unemployed, living on a minimum wage, ex-criminals, asylum seekers, immigrants or addicted people. Our headquarters include a social restaurant, workshops offering rehabilitation, professional reintegration and medical services. We offer people in need a wholesome meal in our social restaurant, prepared by employees which are part of our reintegration programme.
C: We also have a team of doctors that give free medical consultations every Wednesday. A social worker is always available to provide social monitoring and informs, advises and supports the people who come to us for help. Finally, we have a laundry room and showers available free of charge. In the laundry area, a team of people in professional reintegration sorts, washes, irons and folds the clothes donated or collected in schools and companies. Individuals can come try them on to be protected against the harsh winter temperatures or to have appropriate clothing for job interviews, apartment hunts or court appointments. We really want to give people the opportunity to maintain their dignity and feel like they are worth something, because they are.
How did COVID-19 affect your activities?
A: We had to adapt our meal offering and services. Despite the growing number of people in need, we can now only accommodate half of the 300 people we used to feed. People have to eat swiftly and not come into close contact with each other. They are thankful because we never really shut down our activities but unfortunately, we do not have an indoor place that is big enough to gather everyone at a safe distance. At the start of the pandemic, we had to serve our meals outside, no matter the weather. For some time, only 10 to 15 could come inside again and spend half an hour eating. After thirty minutes, they needed to vacate the premises to let other people in.
Has your target population changed since the beginning of the pandemic?
A: New faces walk through our doors every day. Many of those who used to come on a regular basis to get a warm and nutritious meal, take a shower, wash their clothes or have a social contact of any sort, do not come anymore. The issue is, we often do not know where they go. We are not sure whether they will come back at some point or not. Unfortunately, since March 2020, we know that at least six of them have passed away and we don’t know if this is the total figure.
How did you adapt to the huge challenges brought on by the pandemic?
A: COVID-19 has affected every community in different ways, but the population hit the hardest is the homeless. When the pandemic was at its worse, we worked hand-in-hand with health authorities to set up locations where the homeless and undocumented could get tested. They could receive a meal, take a shower on site, do their laundry and get new, clean, warm clothes.
C: Those needing to see a doctor or get new clothes must now book appointments, but it’s challenging. Some make appointments and end up never showing up. The “time slots” do not work unless individuals are in the right mental condition to remember them. Many of these individuals have been on the streets for so long, they do not keep track of time; so how can we expect them to know when to show up for their appointment?
Has there been any upside to the pandemic?
C: Despite the pandemic, we have received plenty of food, clothes and supplies. People have started calling us when they see someone who might need help. That’s something we didn’t see before. It really warms our hearts to see that attitudes are shifting and that individuals, like you and I, want to help more than ever before.
A: People have definitely become a lot more aware and sensitive to social problems in their communities. We have seen an increase in donations, which is wonderful because we have been able to renovate our spaces and work on new projects. However, because demand for our services is increasing exponentially, we are always looking for more donations.
Speaking of the rise in awareness of poverty and willingness to help, do you work mainly with donations? How can we help you on an individual level?
A: We are always trying to collect money. Previous fundraisers enabled us to acquire a professional oven and hire a part-time cook. We recently launched a fundraising campaign to build a sheltered and heated terrace in our social restaurant, for future winters. We were able to raise EUR 24,000!
C: To carry out our work, all forms of donations are welcome. Your help, small or big, can really make a difference. We are always looking for clothes, blankets, towels and sanitary products.
What does the future hold for Stëmm vun der Strooss?
A: We are building a new centre in Sanem. We currently collect 127 tonnes of food every year but we are targeting 500 tonnes. The centre will also allow additional people in professional reintegration to “roll up their sleeves” and acquire working experience to be ready to take on the world again!
Woman in professional reintegration working in the Hollerich social restaurant.
Addressing poverty, reducing inequalities and promoting the inclusion of all are complex processes that must involve dialogue and collaboration amongst companies and stakeholders. Find out more about Stëmm and how you can help by making even just a small donation, as a company or as an individual, by clicking here.
