Last year around 45,000 people lived on the streets in Germany. The number of people without a rental agreement is even higher.
Berlin – According to estimates, around 45,000 homeless people live on the streets in Germany over the course of a year. This was announced by the Federal Homeless Aid Association on Tuesday. The number refers to the year 2020.
The total number of people who were temporarily without a regular apartment of their own with a rental agreement during the year is significantly higher at 256,000 (2018: 237,000). Based on a single reference date in 2020, it was an estimated 158,000 people.
In addition, there would be around 160,000 refugees who would live in shared accommodation or other accommodations. In 2018 this number was still 440,000, but not so many refugees have come to Germany since then.
Probably more homeless due to Corona
The federal working group estimated that the corona pandemic meant that there were more homeless people and people without their own homes. Many aid organizations should have reduced their offers of accommodation and advice, said managing director Werena Rosenke.
Most people without their own apartment are single, it said. There was a lack of particularly cheap apartments in Germany for this group, as well as for single women. Rosenke emphasized: “With 100,000 social housing per year – as promised by the traffic light government – the lack of affordable housing cannot be adequately counteracted. In addition to the social housing, another 100,000 affordable apartments are needed. “
In Berlin, a systematic census recorded around 2000 homeless people on the streets and in emergency shelters on one day in 2020. The Federal Working Group said the number was too low because not all accommodations and beds were included. dpa
