Social
Cabinet approves action plan against homelessness
Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany do not have their own apartment. photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
The goal is ambitious: everyone in Germany should have access to an apartment by 2030. The construction minister presents an action plan. But can this end homelessness?
The federal government wants to ensure that all homeless people have access to an apartment by 2030. The cabinet decided on one presented by Construction Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD). Action plan. The key point is the creation of more affordable housing – however, exactly how this should be achieved remains vague in the guidelines.
In addition, standards for accommodation in emergency shelters should be developed that give those affected more privacy. Among other things, women and men should be able to be accommodated separately if they want. It should also be ensured that all homeless people have health insurance.
Nobody knows exactly how many people in Germany have no apartment. In its latest estimates, the Federal Working Group for Homeless Assistance (BAG W) assumes that a total of 607,000 people were affected over the course of 2022 – some temporarily, some for months or the entire year. These include people who sleep outdoors, in subway stations, tents or demolished houses, but also those who stay with friends and relatives.