Homelessness

Experiencing homelessness in Chile’s extreme weather. Winter or Summer.

A critical short window of survival. We invite you to make a lasting impact by rescuing people living on the streets at very high risk. Please click HERE.

“Let no one die on the street!” says Liliana Cortés, National Social Director of Hogar de Cristo, categorically. As she explains, decades of HC’s experience working with homeless people show that initial reluctance to accept help often shifts over time. The reasons are multiple and complex; however, street outreach like RUTA CALLE(*) or other DIRECT TERRITORIAL interventions (**) from Hogar de Cristo are urgent: be there on time before it is too late and extreme temperatures run out of time.

As Liliana explains, key factors include respectful, consistent engagement through ongoing outreach that gradually builds trust rather than immediate acceptance. Repeatedly offering food, medical care, accompaniment, and genuine care without pressure can work, but it takes a long time. Once trust develops, people become more willing to accept help, shelter, or housing. There is no magic formula, but building willingness among these deeply damaged people requires perseverance, patience, and strong commitment.

(*) Ruta calle: Workers of Hogar de Cristo and volunteers hit the streets year-round, in extreme cold or heat, to help people experiencing homelessness who are at high risk. This includes those with severe health conditions, mental disabilities, or addictions. Along the way, the RUTA CALLE team offers, among other things, food, hot coffee, water, and blankets, but above all, accompaniment and empathy, connecting them with assistance networks or emergency services to address urgent needs.

(**) Territorial interventions (outreach): Watch short video. Linares experience.

Hogar de Cristo offers shelter and hostel services.

These are considered “first-response” interventions. They aim to protect and support people experiencing homelessness—a group that is a high priority for Hogar de Cristo, as their situation represents one of the starkest manifestations of severe poverty and social exclusion.

It provides overnight housing, meals, and basic support to people experiencing homelessness nationwide. The shelters serve as meeting points for Hogar de Cristo, where the most disadvantaged can connect with individual and group volunteers engaged in solidarity-based work.

On average, according to government figures, 31% of those experiencing homelessness have lived this way for six or more years.

Why count them?
The 2024 Census included a section to account for this population, identifying 21,000 people experiencing homelessness—40% of whom are in Santiago. Specialists and civil society actors in this field believe this figure is far from accurate and does not reflect the problem’s true scale.

In 2025, Hogar de Cristo provided services to 3,661 individuals across its 31 shelters throughout Chile. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the participants were men, with an average age of 65.

A women-only shelter in the commune of Estación Central, Santiago, has a capacity of 30. We can also make space in the men’s shelter available and expand it when needed.

Ruta Calle