Homelessness and the threat of homelessness are major social problems - even in Bonn. Yet housing is a fundamental human right. This is why the European Union adopted a resolution in 2020 to end homelessness in the EU by 2030. In 2022, the social administration of the city of Bonn set out on this path and, together with other specialist departments and Bonn's homelessness charity, launched the "Bonn offensive to overcome homelessness". The associated office at the Caritas Association for the City of Bonn has also been staffed since March 2023. Vice-President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Mayor Katja Dörner visited the office to find out about the city of Bonn's strategy for finding solutions to the major social challenge of homelessness.
In the office, which is located in the Prälat-Schleich-Haus, they met the two employees Munirae Gharevi and Helena Marx, Gerhard Roden, Head of Caritas Homelessness Assistance, Anja Ramos, Head of the Office for Social Affairs and Housing, and Caritas Director Jean-Pierre Schneider. The common goal of the Bonn offensive is to meet the changing needs of homeless people in Bonn with housing options and an appropriate support structure and to prevent people from being excluded. Decent housing, connection to the standard social security system and self-determined participation should be made possible for the people concerned.
"Homelessness is a major social problem. The plight of the people affected is unbearable. It is also highly problematic for our social fabric," said Mayor Katja Dörner. "We must and want to act together and find solutions, which requires the cooperation of all key players in urban society. Institutions such as the Rhineland Regional Association, psychiatry, the justice system, hospitals and housing associations must also be brought on board. "I am glad that we now have an institution with competent staff in the form of the office, which bundles all our efforts," says Katja Dörner.
"Having a roof over your head is a basic human need. It is good that the city of Bonn and its partner organizations are now taking action to ensure this basic need for everyone," said Vice-President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt.
"We very much welcome the fact that Mayor Katja Dörner and the Vice-President of the German Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, have come together to discuss the difficult situation of many people in housing need in Bonn. This is also a tribute to the great commitment of the many players in the network who work together to combat homelessness. It has become clear to everyone how great the challenges are and that immediate steps are needed to curb the housing shortage," said Caritas Director Jean-Pierre Schneider.
Avoiding homelessness through early assistance
The primary aim of the Bonn offensive is to avoid an increase in homelessness through preventative measures. The Bonn offensive provides early assistance when tenancies get into difficulties for personal or economic reasons and can thus help to maintain them. A crisis hotline has been set up that both tenants and landlords can contact if the tenancy is in doubt. To this end, the Bonn offensive has already successfully established contacts in the real estate industry, which are taking advantage of the offer.
In addition, the cooperation has already generated offers for people affected by homelessness who live in municipal accommodation or homelessness assistance facilities. The placement of homeless people in regular tenancies is supported and the Bonn Offensive is also available to landlords as a point of contact during the ongoing tenancy if, contrary to expectations, difficulties arise. All property owners are invited to offer unused buildings, whether residential or commercial, to the Bonn Initiative in order to jointly develop ideas on how they can be managed for the common good.
The Bonn Offensive can be contacted on 0228/108341 or eu2030caritas-bonnde.
End vacancies, make living space usable
The panel also discussed the fact that the city of Bonn's occupancy rights for apartments will soon expire, which will further exacerbate the situation on the housing market. Vacant housing and how it can be reactivated and made usable was also discussed.
The administration takes the vacancy issue very seriously and was one of the first cities in North Rhine-Westphalia to issue a misappropriation statute back in 2013, which, among other things, prohibits residential space being left empty without permission. In the meantime, the unit has evolved from what was once a task force into a powerful department that deals with the preservation and appropriate use of housing. However, as the department cannot have its eyes and ears everywhere in Bonn, a vacancy detector has been set up where attentive citizens can report suspected vacancies. The administration follows up every tip. Reports can also be submitted anonymously via leerstandbonnde.
The number of homeless people in the federal city is currently increasing dramatically. According to figures from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the number of homeless people in Bonn has increased almost tenfold since 2011. Statistically, Bonn's population is expected to grow by more than 8.8 percent by 2050, which means that the need for housing in Bonn will grow accordingly. The housing market will not be able to meet this rising demand, despite a wide range of instruments to promote housing construction. The chance of finding an apartment is decreasing. The risk of losing an apartment, on the other hand, is increasing.