Vacancy and rent: The Swabian market is fighting for solutions for asylum accommodation

Vacancy and rent: The Swabian market is fighting for solutions for asylum accommodation

The Ebersberg district is currently facing a challenging situation with regard to the accommodation of asylum seekers. An unused company building with 600 square meters in Markt Schwaben, which was originally intended as accommodation for refugees, will be rented by the district until September 2030, even though it is empty. The whole thing could cost taxpayers money because there is no right to extraordinary termination, as the administration made clear. [Merkur].

In order to temporarily accommodate the 66 asylum seekers, a converted building on Ziegelstadel was rented at the same time, although there is now less space available. Initially, up to 120 refugees were expected to live there, but the Upper Bavarian government is now considering reducing this to just 60 people if a second location is found in the community, like Süddeutsche reported. This decision will be discussed at the next meeting of the local council.

Protests and political discussions

The residents of the planned accommodation organized massive protests and expressed their displeasure, which in some cases had an effect. Against this background, the Zukunft Markt Schwaben (ZMS) parliamentary group is skeptical and questions the necessity of the second accommodation. They submitted an application to the local council with over 40 questions about demand figures, costs and contracts, while the application to disclose all information ultimately failed. The town hall, however, rejects the allegations of lack of transparency and emphasizes that all information is available to the local council members.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the handling of the unused building is particularly explosive. The responsible authorities have given various considerations regarding use, but concrete solutions are still missing. In all of this, the Ebersberg district is, according to its own figures, classified as a “quota underfulfiller” and continues to expect additional allocations of asylum seekers, although the numbers are declining overall. These developments cast a shadow over the already tense refugee situation in the district.

New accommodation and plans

The district also has plans for new accommodation on Hanslmüllerweg, which is primarily intended for citizens from Ukraine, especially families. This could help to improve the accommodation situation, but implementation remains a double-edged sword, as the residents' protests and the political debate show how sensitive the issue is. District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß (CSU) has confirmed that a compromise on the accommodation of refugees is being discussed and is calling for a quick decision from the local council.

Overall, the Ebersberg district is faced with the challenge of finding the balance between the needs of asylum seekers and the concerns of local residents. What happens next remains to be seen, but time is of the essence because the next bus with refugees is expected at the end of March.