Increase in homelessness in Germany: New statistics reveal alarming numbers

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In Germany, the number of homeless people has increased further. According to statistical As of January 31, 2024, the Federal Office was homeless. The article provides insights into the causes and the distribution of homeless people in Germany. Find out more on Destatis.de.
In Germany, the number of homeless people has increased further. According to statistical As of January 31, 2024, the Federal Office was homeless. The article provides insights into the causes and the distribution of homeless people in Germany. Find out more on Destatis.de. (Symbolbild/MB)

at the end of January 2024 there was a worrying increase in the housed homeless people in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 439,500 people were housed due to homelessness as of January 31. Compared to previous years (2023: 372,000, 2022: 178 100), the number increased significantly. However, this increase is mainly due to improvements in the data reports.

The statistics cover people who are housed, for example, in the living space, collective accommodations or facilities for homeless people. Homeless people who live on the street and hidden forms of homelessness are not taken into account in this statistics. However, this information is published every two years in the accompanying homeless report of the Federal Ministry of Living, Urban Development and Building.

The data also show that the largest group was among the housed homeless Ukrainians (136,900). This corresponds to about a third of all homeless people housed. A total of 377,900 people with foreign citizenship were reported, which means an increase compared to the previous year. The number of people with German citizenship rose only slightly to 61 500. The gender distribution of the housed homeless was quite balanced with 55 % men and 43 % women

Among the various household and family constellations were couples with children most often among the homeless people. They formed the largest group with 34 %. Single people made 32 %, followed by single-parent households with 17 %. Other multi -person households and couple households without children had a share of 8 % and 4 % each. The statistics could not determine the household type of 6 % of the people accommodated.

In the federal state comparison, most of the housed people housed in North Rhine-Westphalia with 105 100 people were recorded. Baden-Württemberg followed in second place with 92,700 people and in third place in Berlin with 47,300 people. The lowest number of housed homeless people were reported in Saarland (2,600), Saxony-Anhalt (1 000) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (700).

The statistics record people who are temporarily made available to rooms or apartments without being secured by their own rental agreement. It includes homeless people who are accommodated in emergency accommodation, shared accommodation, commercial accommodation or normal living space. Refugees are also recorded if they have positive asylum procedures and are still accommodated. People who stay with friends or family members are excluded from this statistics, as well as homeless people.

The current data illustrates the persistent problem of homelessness in Germany. In order to effectively counteract this urgent social challenge, extensive measures are required at political, social and economic level. Only through a holistic approach can a solution be found in the long term.