Providing homeless people with housing is becoming increasingly difficult. This is all the more true in popular cities like Bonn. That is why the Office for Social Affairs and Housing has invited people to the launch event for the "Bonn offensive to overcome homelessness by 2030" at the Haus der Evangelischen Kirche. The background to this is the resolution on overcoming homelessness in the EU by 2030, which the European Union adopted in 2020. In addition to politics and administration, Vebowag, the Caritas Association for the City of Bonn and the Verein für Gefährdetenhilfe (VFG) were also present.
"Housing is a fundamental human right," said Mayor Katja Dörner at the start of the event. "It is our duty as an administration and as a society to help people without shelter. We cannot accept people living in shelters for too long - without privacy and prospects. We want a socially just Bonn, which is why we need to tackle this issue together as a top priority."
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.
Needs-based care in collective accommodation difficult to provide
The capacity in Bonn to house homeless people in municipal accommodation has long been inadequate. It is difficult to provide people in the large collective shelters with the care they need. In addition, it is hardly possible to overcome homelessness by placing people in the housing market. This is particularly true in the low-cost segment.
The social administration would like to work together with homeless assistance providers to provide decent housing, improve the quality of accommodation for homeless people in Bonn and better meet their needs using all standard social systems. The aim is also to tap into those service and assistance structures that have so far been virtually inaccessible to this group of people, such as care insurance and health care services or integration assistance.
The social administration needs support for this task. Both from within the city administration and from external cooperation partners. Carolin Krause, Councillor for Schools, Social Affairs and Youth, emphasizes: "The common goal must be to avoid the exclusion of people - and of course a social housing policy that advocates for more and, above all, affordable housing."
Coordinating office has been staffed since March
On the recommendation of the social administration, the Bonn City Council decided to set up an office at the Caritas Association for the City of Bonn. Since March 1, 2023, this has been staffed by Munirae Gharevi and Helena Marx (contact: phone 0228 /108 0, email: eu2030caritas-bonnde
In two poetry slam contributions, Ella Elia Anschein made a moving appeal to help those affected in the long term. Ella Elia Anschein was born in Bonn and is now a dramaturge at the Schlosstheater Celle. In the very personal piece "We have to talk about poverty", Ella Elia speaks from the perspective of the child of a single mother about how it feels to be poor and how the shame still has an impact today. The piece "GlücksFall" reports on a brief, moving encounter with Thomas, a homeless man.
Background on homelessness and homelessness
The terms homelessness and homelessness are often confused or equated, but they describe different situations. Homelessness refers to a part of homelessness. Homeless people are those who have no fixed abode and no accommodation. They spend the night in public spaces such as parks, store entrances or subway stations. All people who do not have a tenancy agreement are described as homeless. They live, for example, in emergency accommodation, a residential or communal facility or with friends.
The number of homeless people in Bonn cannot be precisely quantified because some people do not register as homeless, but use different accommodation options. Around 100 people are known to stay in Bonn on a regular basis. There are currently 410 homeless people living in municipal homeless shelters. In addition, there are around 100 people who are housed in a facility run by an independent organization.