VOA慢速英语--德国餐馆被迫关门向无家可归者开放

A German restaurant forced to close because of the coronavirus crisis is now helping¹ needy² people in Berlin.

Hofbraeu Berlin is the capital's largest restaurant and beer place. But it remains³ closed to the public because of restrictions⁴ aimed at reducing spread of the coronavirus.

One employee, however, proposed that the restaurant could partly reopen to help the city's homeless. Hofbraeu Berlin began taking in homeless people last week – providing them with a free meal and a place to warm themselves.

The city government is financing the program for operation through the winter.

The restaurant accepts 150 homeless people at a time, but enforces social distancing requirements to help prevent new infections. During normal times, Hofbraeu Berlin holds up to 3,000 visitors.

Bjoern Schwarz runs the restaurant. He told The Associated Press the project is a win-win, meaning helpful to all involved. The homeless find food and shelter during a difficult time. The restaurant and employees make some money.

"Normally, during Christmas time, we would have many groups here for Christmas parties and then we'd serve pork knuckles⁵, or half a duck or goose," Schwarz said. "But not at the moment."

The homeless get more than just food and drink at the restaurant. They can also use its rest rooms for washing themselves. And, two aid groups supply counseling services and new clothes at the restaurant as well.

Schwarz said his team aims to provide the visitors with a different experience than they would get at homeless shelters. For example, Hofbraeu Berlin serves the food on nice plates and tries to offer many different food choices, including Christmas dishes.

One visitor is 43-year-old Kaspars Breidaks. He told the AP he came to Germany from Latvia three months ago looking for work. None could be found. He now lives on the streets of Berlin, asking strangers for money.

Breidaks said he is trying to get enough money to buy a bus trip home to Latvia. He stays in shelters for the homeless when possible, but says they have been operating at reduced levels because of the coronavirus. He learned about the restaurant project from some homeless people at the train station.

Berlin has an estimated street population of 2,000 to 12,000. The government says another 34,000 homeless people have been placed in community shelters and other housing run by social services and aid groups.

"The (coronavirus) pandemic has seriously worsened the situation for homeless people, they live in very precarious⁶ conditions," said Elke Breitenbach. She is the Berlin government's senator for social issues. She supports the restaurant-turned-shelter. "They don't have enough to eat and when it's cold they must have places to warm up," Breitenbach added.

Breidaks and other homeless people entering the restaurant were offered several food choices that included traditional German favorites. Breidaks said it was more than he had expected after spending a night outside in the extreme cold.

"All I need is hot soup," he said. "And, God willing, I will go back home in January."

Words in This Story

precarious – adj. a situation that is likely to get worse

soup – n. a hot liquid food, made from vegetables, meat or fish

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 knuckles   

n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝

参考例句：

• He gripped the wheel until his knuckles whitened. 他紧紧握住方向盘，握得指关节都变白了。
• Her thin hands were twisted by swollen knuckles. 她那双纤手因肿大的指关节而变了形。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。