Copenhagen Expands Support for Vulnerable People with Longer Opening Hours

The City of Copenhagen is allocating additional funds to strengthen efforts for socially vulnerable citizens, particularly during evenings and weekends. This is outlined in a new agreement reached at Copenhagen City Hall as part of the so-called budget carryover negotiations.

The agreement includes extended opening hours at the drug consumption room at Sundholm, as well as weekend opening at the drop-in centre Café Dugnad in the Meatpacking District.

The parties behind the agreement have agreed to allocate funds in cooperation with the state for these efforts. Specifically, this amounts to DKK 3.1 million in 2026 and DKK 5.2 million annually in the period 2027–2029. The funds will be used to extend the opening hours of the drug consumption room at Sundholm from 10:00–17:00 to remaining open until 23:00.

The extension is intended, among other things, to help reduce the risk of overdoses and improve access to health and social services. At the same time, the increased presence during evening hours is expected to contribute to greater safety in the local area.

In addition, the parties have agreed to provide an extra operating grant in 2026 so that the drop-in centre Café Dugnad can remain open on weekends. With weekend opening, users will have access to services every day of the week. Café Dugnad functions as a low-threshold service, offering food, counselling, and access to relevant support services.

The initiatives aim to make assistance more accessible for people with substance use and other social challenges, particularly during times when the need is greatest but current services are limited.

-“We know that these problems do not take weekends off or stop at 5 p.m. Therefore, it is crucial that the support does not either. With the budget carryover agreement, we are ensuring a more coherent and dignified effort for some of Copenhagen’s most vulnerable citizens,” says Joanne Bywater, member of the Social Services Committee of the City of Copenhagen for the Liberal Alliance.

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