Homelessness in Germany
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Homelessness in Germany is a significant social issue, estimated to affect around 678,000 people,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/homelessness-in-germany-on-the-rise/a-51195787|title=Homelessness in Germany on the rise|date=2019-11-11|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-31|archive-date=2020-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131230229/https://www.dw.com/en/homelessness-in-germany-on-the-rise/a-51195787|url-status=live}} including about 372,000 people accommodated by public services, e.g. municipalities, in refugee shelters, etc.{{cite web |url=https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Social-Statistics/Homeless-People/_node.html |title=Statistics of homeless people accommodated |website=Statistisches Bundesamt |access-date=2024-01-10 |archive-date=2024-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110125117/https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Society-Environment/Social-Statistics/Homeless-People/_node.html |url-status=live }} {{As of|2017}} there had been a 150% increase in the homeless population within the country since 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-150-percent-rise-in-number-of-homeless-since-2014/a-41376766|title=Germany: 150 percent rise in number of homeless since 2014|date=2017-11-14|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-17|archive-date=2020-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217221603/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-150-percent-rise-in-number-of-homeless-since-2014/a-41376766|url-status=live}} Around 22,000 of the homeless population are reported to be children.{{cn|date=October 2021}}
In addition, the country has yet to publish statistics on homelessness at a Federal Level{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/pages/home.aspx|title=OHCHR {{!}} Home|website=ohchr.org|access-date=2020-01-31|archive-date=2021-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505103713/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/pages/home.aspx|url-status=live}} despite it being an ongoing and widespread matter.
History
= Prior to WWII =
In 1933, the Nazi Party passed a Law "against Habitual and Dangerous Criminals", which allowed for the relocation of beggars, homeless, and the unemployed to concentration camps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html|title=The History Place - Holocaust Timeline|website=www.historyplace.com|access-date=2020-02-17|archive-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210071136/http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html|url-status=live}}
= WWII and its impact =
In 1942, British bombing raids destroyed a total of 3.6 million homes, with 7.5 million Germans left homeless.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3h7bk7/revision/1|title=The outbreak of war and its impact - World War Two and Germany 1939-1945 - AQA - GCSE History Revision - AQA|website=BBC Bitesize|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-17|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208144802/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3h7bk7/revision/1|url-status=live}}
Current statistics
The homeless levels have risen more than 4% between 2017–2018. In addition, according to BAGW's report, refugees are more likely to be homeless.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/german-expat-news/homelessness-rise-germany|title=Homelessness on the rise in Germany|last=Wedia|website=www.iamexpat.de|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=2020-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217222631/https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/german-expat-news/homelessness-rise-germany|url-status=live}} The number of homeless people with a refugee background increased by 5.9%. A majority of the homeless population is men (three in four). There is a worrying increase in the amount of young homeless in some countries including Germany.
Causes
The Federal Government acknowledges that homelessness in Germany is caused by multiple factors, "such as financial, domestic, and individual psychosocial reasons" and that it is not merely rooted in the lack of affordable accommodation. According to Global Homelessness Statistics, "Around 50% of poor households spend more than 40% of their disposable income on housing".{{Cite web|url=https://homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/|title=Global Homelessness Statistics|website=Homeless World Cup|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=2019-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828234630/https://homelessworldcup.org/homelessness-statistics/|url-status=live}} The Berlin Homeless Shelter Association provides housing to the homeless population in Berlin, Germany.
Prevention
Research has been conducted to investigative proactive ways to prevent homelessness. People being evicted from their homes is one of the most common factors for homelessness. Some instruments used to stop the eviction process, include financial support, legal provision for cases of hardship, and assistance negotiations with landlords.{{Cite book|last=Busch-Geertsema|first=Volker|title=Homelessness and Prevention Policies in Europe|publisher=European Commission|year=2014|location=Brussels}} As stated by Dr. Busch-Geertsema, coordinator of the European Observatory on Homelessness, prevention is categorized in several ways: primary prevention (larger risk groups), secondary prevention (those being threatened with eviction), and tertiary prevention (persons who are already homeless).