Cologne's homelessness: voluntary arrests as a desperate solution!

Cologne's homelessness: voluntary arrests as a desperate solution!

Cologne is currently confronted with a serious challenge: homelessness in the city has increased dramatically in recent years. A long-term survey of the FOCUS Cologne: On the inside, their voice about the situation of the homeless. Shaken 15,000 of them believe that the city does far too little for homeless people. Only around 5,000 participants perceive the support as sufficient.

The feedback from the community is particularly alarming. Christine E., a former employee of the Cologne correctional facility, reports that some homeless people voluntarily make themselves punishable and custody, only to escape the cold of winter and to get at least one roof over their heads and food. It emphasizes that the main problem is not the visibility of the beggars. Rather, she sees the endangerment from a growing number of mentally noticeable people who often have to live in the streets without suitable care by the city.

contact points and help offers

The city of Cologne has provided an overview of contact points and help options for homeless people on its website. Important information also offers organizations that take care of the concerns of homeless people. The City of Cologne informs that people without their own apartment who cannot get any accommodation are entitled to support. This also applies to relatives who live in the same household.

In another context, Diakonie that there are around 800 offers for homeless people across Germany who are personally looked after. In addition to emergency accommodations, those affected also find outstanding help and daily stays where they can take a shower, wash the laundry and receive favorable meals.

• homeless people are temporarily with relatives or in institutions without the rental contract.
• homeless, on the other hand, are forced to spend the night in public space.

These differences are crucial, because the causes of homelessness are diverse and range from rent debts to economic emergencies to critical life events such as separations or unemployment. Diakonie emphasizes the need to reduce private -sector discrimination and fight for affordable living space in order to reduce the number of homeless people. The goal is ambitious: homelessness and homelessness are to be eliminated by 2030, released by the national action plan against homelessness.

Especially in times when the temperatures fall and the winter is at the corner, it is important that the city and its citizens have a good hand to effectively help the people affected. The situation shows that there is still a lot of work to do, but also that many are committed to bringing light into the dark.