The rush has subsided a bit. But the Rescue Mission's breakfast café in central Gothenburg is still full of activity an hour after opening.
At the café, visitors can get a sandwich, coffee – and not least a free toilet.
I can't afford ten kronor to go to the toilet. As a woman, you're also extra vulnerable, says Elin, sitting at one of the tables.
You meet a lot of weird people who try to take advantage of you. Some think I'm a prostitute just because I'm homeless.
It's a recurring story at the café, adds Pastor Eva Erlandsson.
It's very common for homeless women to be offered a place to sleep in exchange for sex, she says.
Elin moved to Gothenburg to escape a violent relationship, but didn't feel safe in her protected accommodation. Instead, she wants to live with her current boyfriend – who is also homeless.
There aren't many beds available at the shelters. Now I've slept out for three days and before that, we camped for seven months, she says.
I think it's increased and I see many younger people sleeping out too.
"Enormous stigma"
Beside her stands a bag with cans she's going to recycle to get some kronor together. When Christmas comes up, her voice falters.
I don't know how it'll be, says Elin.
Her story is one of many similar ones at the café. At the same time, each story is unique, notes operations manager Patrick Hansén.
There's an enormous stigma surrounding being homeless, but these people are so much more than just homeless, he says.
According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, over 27,000 people over 18 were homeless in Sweden last year. That's a significantly worse situation than in the Nordic neighboring countries, emphasizes Patrick Hansén.
We need to step it up. Having a proper home is a matter of rights. How hard can it be? We should be able to solve this.
"Real misery"
Ulf Eriksson has taken care of his sick mother over the past few years and had hoped to take over her apartment when she passed away a year ago.
But when he lost all his identification documents last winter, the chances disappeared.
It became real misery. It took until the end of summer to fix, but then it was too late, he says.
So today at 3 pm, the bailiff comes.
Ulf is also worried about Christmas, but still manages to laugh.
Yes, it's still fun to meet people and not just sit at home. But now I don't know how it'll be.
