No One Should Be Alone at Christmas | Województwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie

Ahead of Christmas, Marshal Piotr Całbecki traditionally meets with people experiencing homelessness and representatives of support institutions. The gathering at the Marshal’s Office brought together guests from Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Włocławek, Brodnica and Chełmża.

“While building a society based on solidarity, we should be particularly sensitive and notice those who are struggling with various difficulties. People without a roof over their heads – who want to improve their situation, have a better life ahead of them, and prospects for the future – need others. That is why thanks are due to the representatives of institutions that run support facilities for people in crisis. They are the heroes of our time,” said Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

This year’s Christmas Eve meeting is attended by beneficiaries of the St. Brother Albert Aid Centre in Bydgoszcz, the Municipal Shelter for Homeless Men in Toruń, the Caritas Shelter in Włocławek, the “Betania” Shelter for People Experiencing Homelessness with Care Services in Brodnica, the Blessed Rev. Stefan Wincenty Frelichowski Shelter in Chełmża (Toruń County), as well as beneficiaries of the “Heart of Toruń” Association.

In Poland and in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, the number of people experiencing homelessness is declining. According to the latest survey conducted in February 2024, there are over 30,000 people without a roof over their heads nationwide, including 1,600 in our region. Nearly every second person living on the street lost their home due to eviction. One in five ended up there as a result of family conflict or alcohol addiction. In our region, there are a total of 28 support facilities: 19 shelters (including 5 shelters with care services), 4 night shelters, and 5 warming centres, together able to accommodate 1,233 people at the same time.

List of support facilities

The regional self-government finances social prevention programmes and projects addressed to people experiencing homelessness, as well as emergency support programmes run by non-governmental organisations. Each year before winter, the Marshal’s Regional Social Policy Centre publishes up-to-date materials on places providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness. These materials are distributed to social welfare institutions and public healthcare facilities, the police, municipal guard headquarters, and railway services.

Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office

18 December 2025