After our regular classes today, the group took a trip across Graz to visit VinziDorf, a home for the homeless.
VinziDorf is a church-ran program that takes in homeless no matter their situation. Unlike some programs where the homeless have to find jobs or get kicked out, VinziDorf allows the residents to stay as long as they wish and do as little as they wish.
It is called VinziDorf (Dorf is German for village) because the community is comprised of several “containers” where the residents are housed. They even elect someone from the community to be the Burgermeister (mayor).
Many of the residents at VinziDorf are alcoholics who do not wish to give up alcohol. The program allows them to bring their beer and wine with them, and has a very hands-off attitude.
The only time the alcohol is taken away from them is when they are drunk and causing trouble. It is normally returned to them after they have sobered up the next morning.
The reason that alcohol is allowed is that many times the homeless will refuse shelter if it requires them to give up their alcohol.
VinziDorf was by far one of the most practical things that I have seen since I landed here. It is really great what this church and its volunteers do for the less-fortunate in Graz.