"Stay at home" is a message that is repeated across the board, a message the government has not grown tired of reiterating. However, what about those who have no home to go to? Where can they go now that all public places are shutting down?
Since Tuesday, charity Stëmm vun der Strooss has had to close its doors too, although they continue to hand out free meals at the entrance. Youth workers and social workers are amongst those unable to work anymore.
Yesterday, the meal consisted of goulash with carrots and potatoes, a bottle of water and a sandwich. Around 250 to 300 meals are handed out daily.
As places such as Stëmm vun der Stroos no longer offer shelter, only take aways, many of those without a home feel like they have been left in the lurch and forgotten, as one anonymous individual declared.
Christian Pütz: "What about those without a home? Where can they go during the day?"
Not only that, finding places to go to the toilet and to wash your hands have not been easy to find either. Considering the latter is an important preventative measure, this poses a particular problem for those without access to places where they can maintain their hygiene.
While the night shelters that opened throughout the winter still provide spaces for people to sleep, many questions remain unanswered.
Christian: "The night shelter will be open until the 30 March, so what do we do after that?"
For the team behind Stëmm vun der Strooss, the situation isn't an easy one either. All employees need to be as flexible as possible, and able to respond to a diverse range of needs, and while they have requested masks from the Ministry of Health and the army, they haven't arrived yet. However, they are trying to make the best out of a bad situation.
Alexandra Oxacelay - Stëmm vun der Strooss: "We're trying to think about different ways that would still allow people to come inside, and to provide them with the opportunity to shower and to use the toilet, things they will find a way to do one way or another. In Esch one person broke in in the night so that they could shower."
In Courage in Bonnevoie, people are still able to shower and wash their clothes, however many are unaware of this. This indicates the need to improve the flow of information, as experts in the sector also experience a large degree of uncertainty.
Alexandra Oxacelay: "The crisis is worse for [the homeless], since they are already more vulnerable. Where can they go? Where could they self-isolate? How can people without medical insurance be treated?"
