Homelessness in Germany - What if you can’t afford a home? | DW Documentary
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Published 2022-02-01
According to estimates, the number of people experiencing homelessness has been rising steadily since 2008. For too long, politicians have ignored the problem and neglected to collect comprehensive data - even though the issue has long since reached the heart of society. It’s only now in 2022 that the German government will have collected nationwide data to assemble official statistics. Because only people housed in community or emergency shelters are counted, this analysis will be supported by additional reporting on the number of people living on the streets.
The problem is exacerbated by overburdened aid and support systems, a lack of coordination, a tight housing market and real estate speculation. For experts such as social anthropologist Luisa Schneider, it mainly comes down to a lack of strategy: "At the moment we find ourselves in a situation where we are managing, but not solving homelessness. If we don’t change our social structure, these numbers are going to skyrocket. The problem can’t be solved with our current system."
Reporter Max Neidlinger accompanied several people experiencing homelessness. Their stories are examples of an ever graver problem: More and more people are homeless or, less visibly, being housed in makeshift accommodation. There is a lack of both affordable housing and a long-term strategy to support those affected. Yet in a joint declaration of EU member states, Germany has pledged to work to end homelessness by 2030.
Homeless people in Germany have been forced to fend for themselves. Many of them are unable to seek help or are unaware of possible assistance. Some feel a sense of shame and oftentimes they live hidden away, somehow managing to survive. How is it possible that in one of the world’s wealthiest countries, people increasingly cannot afford a home of their own, despite having a job or a pension? And why has there been inaction for so long?
#documentary #dwdocumentary #homelessness #Germany
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All Comments (21)
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I've been homeless and lived in a garage with my dogs. Doing it in the middle of a Ohio winter is tough. I also walked around a lot. It's one of the most desperate, lonely feelings I've ever had. Watching people live normal lives. I've gotten myself out of the situation but at a cost. I lost my dogs. They had to go to a rescue. My heart was broken. People would be amazed how many homeless stay that way because of their animals.
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Felt so bad for them especially now it’s winter it’s very cold for these homeless people
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This makes me so sad. I'm heartbroken for that sweet lady and her fur babies. I'll pray for her to find a forever home.
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I lived in Germany 76-79 and 90-93. Never saw anything remotely resembling a homeless problem. Housing was hard to get in the early 90s but lots of housing was being built. Loved living there…I’ve been back a few times since. I was in the Munich Bahnhof in 2010 and tossed a bottle in the regular trash. An elderly lady walked over and took it out and I thought she was shaming me. But I watched another video of how many poor pensioners were in Germany and I realized she was collecting recyclables for the money.
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I'm a 72 year old British woman and at my age there's not much that surprises me, but this documentary really shocked me. I never thought that such a problem would exist in a country like Germany.
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It's more painful to see elderly people going through this. They should be taken care of.
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The scariest part is that it could happen to ANYBODY. And that is so awful, people who are used to having a place to live and now all of a sudden boom, there is NOTHING. Nobody should have to live like this.
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My brother recently told me he was homeless, living in his vehicle many years ago. It shocked me, he never asked me for help. Unfortunately, I was stationed in Okinawa Japan at the time. It's an eye opener.
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The most frightening part of this is how normal the ones classed as homeless are, it shows how easily it could happen to many of us
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This is a world wide problem. This shouldn't be going on in this day and age.
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I live in the U.S. and I've been homeless due to being hit by a drunk illegal immigrant with no license or insurance. I lost the house I was buying laying in a hospital bed in my living room for over a year and over another year in physical therapy. Meanwhile I was working on trying to get disability benefits because I am not able to work due to the injuries from being hit - I am not going to say car accident because it was anything but an accident. I was homeless for over 6 years, applying for disability benefits 3 times each time taking over 2 years to get denied and having to reapply. I live in Michigan, northern part of the southern peninsula. I did 3 Michigan winters in a tent and 3 in a camper. Believe it or not the tent was way better. Trying to heat the camper was harder than heating a tent. I'm now in an apartment that I really hate living in. The neighbors and the rules are insane - literally. And because I live on disability and have government assistance I have everybody and their brother up my ass wanting to know everything about me- what I have, what I don't have, how much money I have or don't have, where my money comes from and where I spend it etc. etc etc.. Being homeless was almost better than the way I live now - at least being homeless I didn't have everyone in my business. I didn't know how I was going to get out of being homeless and now I don't know how I'm going to get out of the situation I'm in and better my life. I want to buy a house again but I don't know how I'm going to make that happen with all the restrictions I live under keeping me down. Homelessness is a worldwide problem that our society doesn't understand at all. People look down on homeless people, as if they're the scum of the earth just because they're homeless. When you get down to the extent of being homeless and then relying on the government to get out of being homeless, it's really very hard to get back up to an acceptable level of living again. I really hate this appartment. I have to make myself think of things to be grateful for every day - like I'm glad I don't have to cut firewood for heat because I'm not physically able to anymore, I like sleeping in my bed instead of a cot and sleeping bag, I like being able to take a shower when I want to or need to, and I like not having to worry about being told that I have to move because I can't stay here or there anymore. It's hard living like this, but it's also hard being homeless. Either way, it's hard to get back to living self sustainable and being able to improve your life. I can't even save money in a bank account because I'll get penalized for it one way or another - they'll raise my rent, cut my food card, or just make me sell anything of any value and possibly just take the money I've managed to save. Making money is the same thing, I get penalized for it, losing more than I make somewhere in the mix. Can't win for losing - ALL BECAUSE I WAS HIT BY A DRUNK ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH NO LICENSE OR INSURANCE. Oh yeah, the illegal immigrant that hit me was not deported or prosecuted. He gets a free ride while I pay the cost of his crime
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Sascha. 😭 It's admirable that you won't give up your cat. God bless you brother.
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What a shame. I just can’t believe this country is going through such horrible moment with the homeless. Great documentary DW! Thanks for sharing with the world.
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No matter which country they are from. All homeless are deserve a shelter. Been homeless for few weeks in India. I mean spent all those days in my office only with one pair off clothes, since my rented house was seized by my owner. I literally cried every day. It's very hard to spend as homeless.
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All I can say is wow...I watch a lot of documentaries and this is one of the best filmed and edited ones I've ever seen. When I whisked me way through Germany last summer on the ICE train through Frankfurt and Koln to Hamburg, I never imagined there were that many homeless in the country. It's a big problem in Canada too, and only getting worse with the rise in inflation and the never ending rent increases. I truly admire the effort that Euro countries are making to try to mitigate this pressing issue, I only wish the government here cared as much. Thank you for making this documentary.
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Excellent documentary, good camera work, good camera angles, good story line, enjoyed watching.
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My heart is broken for the lady and her sweet little dogs. I hope they are in a safe, comfortable home together now. 😭
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It's a Worldwide problem. I'm 56, in the town I grew up in (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) the average house price was $35,000. It is $700,000 now.
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I will keep these wonderful people in my thoughts and prayers. Homelessness is a united nation issue and we never truly appreciate what we have unless we see these people hurting this way. God bless them all.
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These situations people are suffering through are tragic! My heart goes out to them.
