Hostels, Single Mother’s Homes

Single Mother’s Homes

Like Single Mother’s Homes, shelters and night-shelters are managed chiefly by Church institutions (Caritas and women’s congregations). Every person in need, regardless of their religious denomination and residence status in Poland, can use their assistance.
Hostels for persons in need of temporary accommodation, including mothers with children, are also managed by Crisis Intervention Centres. The task of such hostels is to provide temporary, 24-hour accommodation to persons or families in crisis situations (emergencies, domestic violence, alcoholism). Hostels at Crisis Intervention Centres provide shelter for up to 3 months. Referrals to Crisis Intervention Centre hostels are issued by the County Family Assistance Centres. The Centres only accept persons registered in their territorial entity. Hostels at Crisis Intervention Centres may provide emergency assistance to foreigners in a difficult situation, if they are duly registered.
The number of beds at Single Mother’s Homes and hostels is limited. It may take up to several weeks before you are accepted at one. Hostels at Crisis Intervention Centres and some hostels ran by religious congregations have emergency places at their disposal for persons in times of sudden crisis. They are usually just mattresses spread on the floor.

List of shelters and night-hostels for women in Poland

Shelters and night-hostels in Poland

Single Mother’s Homes

Single Mother’s Homes are managed by Caritas, religious congregations, non-governmental organizations and public institutions conducting social welfare activities. Such centres provide shelter to mothers and women expecting a child who have found themselves in a difficult life situation. Women staying there receive psychological, legal and social assistance.

Single Mother’s Homes provide assistance and accommodation to mothers with children residing in the area of the Republic of Poland, regardless of their actual place of residence. It means that citizens of other countries, residing temporarily in Poland, are also accepted.
Each Single Mother’s Home establishes individual terms for accepting women. Most of them require a referral from Social Welfare Centres, the Police, a court or a County Family Assistance Centre. This requirement concerns in particular pregnant women or mothers with children applying for long-term accommodation. Most centres accept women for a period of up to twelve months. Places at Single Mother’s Homes may be applied for by women who are homeless, experience violence and have found themselves in a difficult family situation.

Single Mother’s Homes do not accept women who need shelter for a couple of days. In emergency situations, when a place to stay is needed for a short time, you should go to a night-hostel for women or to a crisis intervention centre.

Single Mother's Homes in Poland - contact details database