Hamburg's poverty summit: This is how we solve the housing crisis together!

Hamburg's poverty summit: This is how we solve the housing crisis together!

The first poverty summit took place in Hamburg on October 15th, an important event that was launched by SoVD Hamburg in cooperation with the Hamburg Tenants Association, DGB Hamburg and the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband. The venue, the hall of the Patriotic Society, was full of committed participants, including Michaela Engelmeier from the SoVD and Klaus Wicher, chairman of the SoVD Hamburg. The pressing issues of poverty and housing were discussed with around 180 other people present. On this occasion, the motto “Paths to a just future” was brought into focus. According to current figures, one in four children and one in five residents in Hamburg are considered poor, which highlights the need for such events.

An absolute main topic was housing, the importance of which Michaela Engelmeier impressively underlined by proclaiming: “Housing is a human right and must be affordable for everyone.” In view of rising rents and the insufficient availability of living space, many citizens are realizing that the reality is often different. Mareike Engels from Alliance 90 / The Greens even warned of the risks of poverty for democracy. They and many other voices called for greater consideration of people with experience of poverty, such as Erika Heine, who reported: “We are not taken seriously, there is a lot of arbitrariness.”

The long-term consequences of poverty

The discussions at the summit also led to the realization that poverty is often a vicious circle that requires structural measures. Klaus Wicher emphasized that better educational opportunities and effective social security systems are needed to break the vicious circle. Dr. Rolf Bosse from the Hamburg Tenants Association called housing “the new social question” and called on the state to act accordingly. Tanja Chawla from DGB Hamburg drew attention to another point: rents should not make up more than a third of the salary in order to ensure the financial stability of the tenants.

A common conclusion of the four-hour event was that alternatives exist, but there is often a lack of political will. The organizers adopted a declaration that included both the development of exit scenarios from poverty and a plan to strengthen social security in Hamburg. The first reactions from citizens show a willingness to actively follow this path.

Social security as a human right

What is behind the concept of social security? According to the international community, social security is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and further supported by international agreements and the 2030 Agenda. It aims to protect people from poverty and life risks, whether through social insurance or through non-contributory benefits, which are particularly crucial in times of crisis. These systems not only help individuals survive crises, but also promote resilient societies.

Current statistical data shows that around 17.6 million people in Germany were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024, accounting for around 20.9% of the population. These figures underline the urgency of measures and reforms in the social sector, because in Hamburg it can't just be about empty words. The values ​​show that a person is considered at risk of poverty if their income is below the poverty risk limit, which in 2024 was 1,378 euros net for people living alone.

At a time when 15.5% of the population is at risk of poverty, initiatives such as the poverty summit and the call for sustainable social security are of central importance. Ultimately, it's about offering people a perspective and paving the way to a fair future. The discourse about accommodation and social justice is more important than ever, especially in cities like Hamburg, where the social gap is sometimes huge.