Prachatice is testing fireproof “igloos for homeless”
An emergency shelter designed to protect homeless individuals during freezing temperatures has been introduced in Prachatice. The city, in collaboration with the Prevent organization, purchased two specialized igloos for this purpose. The city faces a shortage of accommodation options, and some shelters are too remote for certain individuals to access.
"It is made of a special material that ensures that the igloo is eighteen degrees warmer than outside, so our clients don't freeze to death," says Hana Bauerová from Prevent Prachatice.
"Inside, the igloo is beautifully silver because it's a non-flammable material. So if a client smoked in there, they wouldn't catch anything on fire," she adds.
Assembling the igloo is not difficult, but it always takes at least two people. Ms. Bauerová explains that the igloos will be lent out in coordination with social workers, ensuring that clients do not retain the igloos themselves. Homeless individuals will only be allowed to use the igloos under specific conditions, including actively engaging with either the Prevent organization or the Social Welfare Department to address their situation.
The exact location for the igloos for the homeless has not yet been determined. However, according to Ms. Bauerová, they will not be placed within residential developments. Guests will be required to clean the igloo after use, and staff from the Prevent organization will disinfect the emergency shelters afterward.
One of the reasons the new technology is welcomed is because there are no night shelters for men directly in Prachatice. "There is a shelter for men in Záblatí, then there is a shelter for mothers with children in Prachatice and a shelter for families with children in Husinec," says Ivana Voráčková, head of the social protection department at the municipality.
She considers the emergency shelters to be very useful. "There are homeless people here and there will probably be more of them in the future. And as social workers, we certainly don't want anyone to freeze to death on the street," Ms. Voráčková adds.
The town of Prachatice funded the purchase of two igloos for homeless individuals, with each igloo costing approximately CZK 5,000.
