Number of people living on German streets has jumped by a third: report
According to an estimate published by the Federal Association for Assistance for the Homeless on Wednesday, the number of people living on Germany’s streets has risen by 13,000 in two years.
In 2016 an estimated 52,000 people were living on German streets, an increase of a third on the 39,000 people who were living rough in 2014.
The report also claims that the overall number of people in Germany who don’t have their own home has risen sharply, from 335,000 in 2014 to 422,000 last year.
Most of the people who don’t have their own homes live in collective accommodation or have to rely on the charity of partners or family.
“The numbers presented today on homelessness are shocking,” said Ulrike Mascher, President of the VdK social association.
“In our view this proves that ever more people are unable to pay their rents because of low wages and over-indebtedness.”
Thomas Specht, head of the Federal Association for Assistance for the Homeless, said that rising rents were just one cause of the negative development.
He pointed out that since 1990 the number of council flats had dropped by 60 percent to 1.2 million, because local councils had sold off many properties to private investors.
“The authorities have lost control of the stock of affordable housing,” he said
An increasing number of the people living on German streets are migrants from eastern Europe. Specht said however that although migration had put pressure on facilities for the homeless, it was by no means the only factor.
Karin Kühn, chairwoman of BAG Help for the Homeless, demanded immediate action from the government.
“The new coalition agreement needs to contain a clause which provides for immediate measures against a further increase in homelessness,” she said.
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In 2016 an estimated 52,000 people were living on German streets, an increase of a third on the 39,000 people who were living rough in 2014.
The report also claims that the overall number of people in Germany who don’t have their own home has risen sharply, from 335,000 in 2014 to 422,000 last year.
Most of the people who don’t have their own homes live in collective accommodation or have to rely on the charity of partners or family.
“The numbers presented today on homelessness are shocking,” said Ulrike Mascher, President of the VdK social association.
“In our view this proves that ever more people are unable to pay their rents because of low wages and over-indebtedness.”
Thomas Specht, head of the Federal Association for Assistance for the Homeless, said that rising rents were just one cause of the negative development.
He pointed out that since 1990 the number of council flats had dropped by 60 percent to 1.2 million, because local councils had sold off many properties to private investors.
“The authorities have lost control of the stock of affordable housing,” he said
An increasing number of the people living on German streets are migrants from eastern Europe. Specht said however that although migration had put pressure on facilities for the homeless, it was by no means the only factor.
Karin Kühn, chairwoman of BAG Help for the Homeless, demanded immediate action from the government.
“The new coalition agreement needs to contain a clause which provides for immediate measures against a further increase in homelessness,” she said.
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