Südstadt Project: Homeless people find new support by collecting garbage

Südstadt Project: Homeless people find new support by collecting garbage

In the southern part of Cologne, a remarkable project that was intended to give homeless people a new perspective has closed its doors. The “Südstadt Heinzel” project was active for almost two years and focused on garbage collection in the Volksgarten. It was funded by the State Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia, but the support ended at the beginning of 2025. The Cologne job center also no longer provided funds due to budget cuts, which resulted in its closure, as the Cologne City Gazette reported.

The project, initiated by the Social Service of Catholic Men (SKM), was mainly aimed at unemployed homeless people from other EU countries, including Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. In Germany, these people were often not entitled to state financial support. Nevertheless, 38 homeless people took part in the garbage collection campaign, four of whom were able to find employment and living space through the project. The participants received one euro per hour and reported an improvement in their self-esteem, which had a positive impact on their life situation. It was also found that alcohol consumption among them decreased and the mood in the emergency shelter improved significantly.

A call for support

In order to continue the project, Elke Tonscheidt started a fundraising campaign with a goal of 20,000 euros to secure funding for two to three months. In order to cover the annual costs of around 130,000 euros, which are necessary for salaries, wages and food for the participants, cooperation with donors is essential. The SKM social workers Hans Arnold and Jörg Graef are passionate about the integration of homeless people and emphasize the need for contact points to help those affected.

But while such initiatives are important, there is also resistance. The Cologne CDU parliamentary group has proposed clearing homeless hotspots in the city center, a measure that SKM employees see as sending the wrong signal. Anke Collignon from the SKM appeals to politicians that there needs to be contact points for homeless people in order not only to support them, but also to integrate them.

The great challenge of homelessness

The problem of homelessness does not only affect Cologne, but represents a problem for society as a whole. According to the federal government, homelessness and homelessness in Germany should be overcome by 2030. As early as 2024, around 1.3 million people in Europe were living without secure accommodation bmwsb.de determines. The legal definition of homelessness includes not only unhoused people, but also those temporarily living with friends or in emergency accommodation.

The national action plan to combat homelessness, which was adopted in 2024, is intended to serve as a guide for everyone involved. This includes record investments in social housing and reforms of housing benefit to improve conditions for all low-income people. These steps are absolutely necessary in order to find a sustainable solution and to stop the gradual worsening of living conditions, as is supporting projects such as the garbage collection campaign in Cologne.

The challenges are great, but without solidarity and widespread support, many people will continue to suffer from precarious living conditions. The situation requires a good hand from all actors to open up new opportunities for the homeless while preserving their dignity.