by Shelly Schoeneshoefer
When I moved to Hamburg , I noticed individuals standing outside stores or going into restaurants presenting magazines and asking for money . I always said no since I didn ’ t really understand what they were about and , since I couldn ’ t speak German at the time , I couldn ’ t ask . Once I found out what they were doing , and that it actually made a difference in their lives , I was hooked . You as a magazine buyer make an impact on that particular person ’ s well-being by buying one , reading it , and then leaving it at another location , like at your doctor ’ s office . The publishing company is called Hinz & Kunzt , and the magazine is staffed by people living on the streets of Hamburg .
It is a very well-written magazine , and each edition has its unique concept . For many years now , I have had a few favorite sellers , and when I have a chance , I buy a magazine from them or buy them a cup of coffee and hear their stories . Recently , a long-time AWCH member , Carol Battenfeld , told me that one of her favorite AWCH tours was of the Hinz & Kunzt facilities , and that it still remains strong in her memory .
So , with that in mind , one cold day in April , a group of AWCH members met Chris , the tour guide that Carol had met many years ago , and he took us on a journey into the world of the homeless in Hamburg . It certainly gave each one of us a new perspective on places we see every time we are in the city . We first visited the place where they can get medical help if they are injured or sick and receive a good meal on Mönckenburgstraße . Chris informed us that seventy percent of the homeless are men , twenty-eight percent are women , and two percent are children . These statistics are only for those who are legally registered in Hamburg , so the actual percentages may differ .
A building located near the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe and Hamburg ’ s main public library is a place where drug users can go to have a professional caregiver provide them with clean needles . Chris told us this was very important toward keeping disease numbers low . The users have to bring their own drugs , and we were shocked to see how many people were waiting in line . He then took us to another area where the homeless have mailboxes and to living spaces for disabled and homeless people who are drug- and alcohol-free . They also have a place where they can take showers and clean their clothes . It makes sense . How is a homeless person ever to get off the street when they don ’ t even have a mailing address ? It made me think of the ever-growing homeless population in the US and how much more we could do for them .
Chris then took us aside and told us his story , which was unbelievable . It started when he was placed in a catholic institute run by nuns after social services had determined that his parents were neglecting him and his brother . As the nuns were also abusive , he tried to escape several times , and , by age eleven , he was on the street . He managed to survive the winter there , and over time he also managed to make it to Hamburg , where he heard about this magazine . He didn ’ t have an education , but this place provided an opportunity , and most of all the structure , that he needed to put his life together . Chris said this magazine gave him a reason to live .
The original idea for Hinz & Kunzt magazine came from England , but it has been a huge success story here in Hamburg . Chris said the most important thing was to buy the magazine and then leave it places for others to read , since they don ’ t do any advertising . He said it was better to give money to the poor than to have them steal it from you . Don ’ t think about how they are spending their money , because that ’ s their business , not yours . An important point : legitimate sellers will be wearing a Hinz & Kunzt identification badge — look for it .
They are always looking for people to work on the magazine and are very happy to receive donations . Two-thirds of their funding is from donations and one-third is from magazine sales . If you ever have a chance to take a tour , it is definitely a worthwhile glimpse into the world of the homeless . Link : info @ hinzundkunzt . de
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