On 21 August, we travelled to Münster to bring and distribute Shelterbags together with the Johanniter Hilfsgemeinschaft Münsterland at the meeting point An der Clemenskirche. This place, supported by the Alexianer, is an important anchor in the city for many people in need. Every day, around 60 guests find not only a meal here, but also rest, community, and the feeling that they matter. With the support of 30 volunteers, four permanent staff members, and the sisters of the order, people here work day in, day out for dignity for everyone.
Homelessness in Münster: figures and stories
The official figures speak of 2,097 to 3,000 people without a home of their own. In summer, an estimated 150 people sleep outside; in winter, around 80. Behind these numbers are the stories of people trying to survive on the streets. According to the Systemsprenger working group, there are consistently 30 to 40 people living in the inner city, a picture that the Johanniter confirm daily. Local aid workers note that the city sometimes presents the actual numbers as lower, while they see up close how great the need really is. Set against this is a powerful signal: solidarity from society. Volunteers and organisations show that people do not have to be left to fend for themselves.
Collaboration that changes lives
In Münster, different organisations work side by side to provide support. The Johanniter go out every evening with their soup kitchen and bus to share hot meals. The Malteser provide medical care to those who urgently need it. The Arbeiter Samariter Bund drives through the city with a mobile ambulance and digital bus so that even the most vulnerable are reached. And the Alexianer welcome their guests not only with breakfast and lunch, but also with pastoral care, church services, and moments of togetherness—from harvest festivals to a St Nicholas celebration.
These efforts together form a safety net. It is often not enough to solve the structural problems of homelessness, but it does send a clear message: you are not forgotten.
Sheltersuits as protection and hope
During the distribution, it became clear how much difference a Sheltersuit can make. The suits are 100% windproof and waterproof and designed to offer protection in the harshest conditions. Volunteers emphasised how important the durability of the material is, because the suits are used intensively. Small practical details, such as darker cuffs that show less dirt, make a difference in daily life.
But above all, it is about what a Sheltersuit means: warmth, protection, and the assurance that no one has to sleep outside unprotected.
With a Sheltersuit you prevent someone from freezing at night. It gives people on the street the chance to sleep dry and warm something that should be a matter of course for everyone
- Sebastian Schauff, Johanniter Hilfsgemeinschaft Münsterland -
For the coming winter, 40 Sheltersuits are needed in Münster. They can only be purchased thanks to donations.
Impact beyond the street
Every Sheltersuit is made in our social atelier in Enschede. For €300 per suit, we not only provide warmth and protection to people in acute homelessness, but we also create jobs for people with a distance to the labour market. We use upcycled materials, so each suit also contributes to a more sustainable world.
The distribution in Münster once again showed us that the line between cold and warmth, between hopelessness and dignity, can sometimes lie in a single Sheltersuit. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the power of collaboration, someone who would otherwise sleep unprotected on the street has the chance to get through the night dry and warm.
Join in. Support the Johanniter Hilfsgemeinschaft Münsterland with a contribution towards the purchase of the 40 Sheltersuits needed this winter. Every donation helps a person move forward.
