Emden fights against the cold: There are enough places to sleep for the homeless!

Emden fights against the cold: There are enough places to sleep for the homeless!

The cold season has Emden firmly under control, and as the temperatures drop, the topics of homelessness and social support are very important. The city of Emden has responded to the winter requirements and offers loud Northwest Newspaper enough sleeping places for homeless people. A total of 27 sleeping accommodations and two apartments for families are available in the city.

The “Alte Liebe” homeless shelter, located in the Port Arthur/Transvaal district, has 19 sleeping places available during the frosty months. What is particularly noteworthy is that this accommodation is open from midday in order to offer early protection to those in need. Additional accommodation on Althusiusstrasse with eight beds is also operated, with care provided by the “Alte Liebe” staff. There are two apartments for families on Graf-Enno-Straße, which also make an important contribution to the stability of homeless families.

Increasing demand and challenges

In the context of homeless assistance, the utilization of the sleeping spaces provided has increased in recent years. While the accommodations were only 56 percent occupied in 2021, the occupancy rate in 2023 is already almost 80 percent. The Synodal Association of Northern East Frisia even reports of more than 100 homeless people in Emden, including those in “homeless-like accommodation”. Despite this alarming increase, the city is currently not planning any new sleeping spaces, which shows the urgency that social housing urgently needs to be strengthened.

The city of Emden appeals to politicians to address the problem more intensively and find sustainable solutions. And action is necessary: ​​The Housing Department recommends taking early action if you are threatened with homelessness, for example after receiving notice of termination. The focus is not only on providing accommodation, but also on increasing the housing retention rate. The specialist service is available during regular opening hours and also on Thursday afternoons to offer support in preventing homelessness.

Social responsibility and perspectives

However, the challenges surrounding the issue of homelessness are not limited to Emden. According to the Federal Working Group for Homeless Aid, over 600,000 people in Germany were homeless in 2022, with 50,000 of them living on the streets. Dierk Borstel, a professor of political science, points out that homelessness is often the result of several individual strokes of fate. The situation could remain critical, particularly in times of housing shortages and high rents. The federal government has set itself the goal of ending homelessness by 2030, but concrete measures must follow to make this happen.

In addition, warming rooms and cold buses in many cities offer important contact points for homeless people. These facilities not only offer a place to rest, but also warm drinks and social exchange opportunities. Such an approach could also be important in Emden and the surrounding area to help homeless people through the cold season.

In summary, it can be said that, despite a solid basic supply, the city of Emden needs to increase its attention and resources in order to meet the increasing demands of homeless assistance. It remains to be seen how policymakers will respond to this challenge.