Cologne's homelessness: stories, fates and the call to act!

Cologne's homelessness: stories, fates and the call to act!

The image of homelessness in Cologne is not only sad, but also raises many questions. Reader reporter Bettina M. undertook a bike tour from Widdersdorf to Zündorf and crossed striking points such as the cathedral plate and the Hohenzollern Bridge. On her route she met numerous homeless people, including young and old people, as well as sick people. "It makes me think," she describes her sensations. She often gives a euro or asks for coffee and food what opportunities offer to get into conversation and thus gain a little insight into the fates of these people. Every homelessness is accompanied by a story, she emphasizes. And that should encourage us all to think-because nobody is immune to caught in such a situation as Express.de.

In Germany, the numbers are alarming. In 2022, over 600,000 people lived without a permanent residence, with about 50,000 living on the street - a development that is becoming increasingly worrying. Single men, single parents and large families are particularly affected. The reasons for this terrifying situation are varied, but a common cause is rising rental prices and the lack of availability of living space. [Better world.info] (https://www.besserewelt.info/sociales/soziales-nach-themen/obdachlosen- objectless) states that over 550,000 apartments are empty in Germany. These vacancies are often used for speculation while people have to live on the streets.

The hidden poverty

It is astonishing that not every homeless person actually lives on the street. Many people are temporarily with friends or relatives in collective accommodation or live - a form that is often referred to as "hidden homelessness". At the beginning of 2024, around 532,000 people in Germany were homeless, including around 47,300 homeless people. The main cause of this situation is often rent debt because rents in cities like Cologne are increasing more and more. A quarter of the available income must apply households for living, almost half of people at risk of poverty. [Statista] (https://de.statista.com/themen/13522/ Wohnungs-und-obdachlosen-in-deutschland/) shows that the number of social housing has drastically reduced in recent years and that many people have to live under difficult conditions.

These social challenges lead to a high degree of violence against homeless. Since 1989, 626 documented deaths have been recorded and at least 2,300 cases of serious bodily harm. This problem is further exacerbated by prejudice and discrimination against homeless. In addition, access to social benefits is often associated with bureaucratic hurdles, which exacerbates the situation for many. The traffic light government has announced that they want to build 100,000 social housing annually; But in 2022 only 25,000 were implemented.

A rethink is necessary

As Bettina M. notes, a rethink of society is needed in order to address the causes of homelessness and find solutions. The proposal to rededicate vacant office space to living space could be a way to relieve the housing shortage. At the same time, there have to be more excessive support offers so that people receive help in good time before homelessness occurs. We are all asked not only to observe the situation, but to actively act and help.

In the end, the realization remains: there is a story behind every homelessness. And maybe through empathy and understanding we can contribute a small part to eliminate the081010 social grievances.