Berne Drug drop-in center on Bern's Hodlerstrasse to be expanded

SDA

8.7.2024 - 10:45

Injection equipment in a drug drop-in center. (archive picture)
Injection equipment in a drug drop-in center. (archive picture)
Keystone

Bern's municipal council wants to renovate and expand the drop-in center for drug addicts on Hodlerstrasse. It is submitting a project planning credit of CHF 650,000 to the city council, as announced on Monday.

Keystone-SDA

The property near the Lorraine Bridge is in poor condition. In addition, there is not enough space. Space on the first floor of the neighboring building could now be rented and expanded. This property is already owned by the City of Bern; the space in question is currently rented out externally as a garage.

If parliament approves the project planning credit, nothing stands in the way of further planning. The city would like to start construction work in summer 2026. It should take two years and take place during ongoing operations.

Originally, the municipal council wanted to relocate the contact point from the Bollwerk / Schützenmatte / Reitschule area. However, the plans for a move to Predigergasse fell through. In 2021, the municipal council decided to keep the drop-in center on Hodlerstrasse.

It is visited by 100 to 150 people every day. They can consume the drugs they bring with them in the premises under controlled, hygienic conditions.