Poverty and housing shortage: Hamburg's summit for a fair tomorrow!

Poverty and housing shortage: Hamburg's summit for a fair tomorrow!

In the last few weeks, a significant signal has been set in Hamburg: the first poverty summit took place on October 15th, organized by the SoVD Hamburg in collaboration with the Hamburg Tenants Association, the DGB Hamburg and the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband. Whether in the hall of the Patriotic Society or in other locations, the topic of housing was the focus of the discussions, which attracted around 180 participants, including Michaela Engelmeier and Klaus Wicher, chairman of the SoVD Hamburg. The aim of the summit was to draw attention to the widespread problem of poverty, which has reached serious proportions in the Hanseatic city: every fourth child and every fifth resident is affected by poverty. The motto “Paths to a just future” made clear the intention of this important event.

Numerous experts, politicians and those affected had their say and shared their perspectives. Michaela Engelmeier made it clear: “Housing is a human right and must be affordable for everyone.” Mareike Engels from the Green Party warned of the danger that poverty could become a threat to democracy. Klaus Wicher also emphasized that poverty is a vicious circle that requires structural measures and better educational opportunities. However, the reality for many is different: Erika Heine reported on her experience and accused: “We are not taken seriously, there is a lot of arbitrariness.”

Urgent need for action

A central demand that ran through the discussions was the need to create housing for everyone. Dr. Rolf Bosse, from the Hamburg Tenants Association, described housing as “the new social question”, while Ulrich Schneider from the Joint Association criticized the unobjective debate about poverty. Concrete solutions were discussed in various forums, but the conclusion was that there is a lack of political will and the necessary steps to really change anything. The organizers adopted a declaration that encourages the development of exit scenarios from poverty. Initial reactions from citizens show that they are ready to follow this path.

But while discussions are taking place at a political level, many people are facing major challenges in their everyday lives. Let's get back to the topic of home: a disorderly state at home - dirty laundry, dishes in the sink and an unpleasant smell in the shower - can be annoying, especially after a long day at work. How about coming home to a fresh, clean home after a stressful day? Here, professional cleaning could help to reduce stress and create space for relaxation and free time. In any case, a cleaning service like the one described on the poverty platform could offer a solution. Especially in an environment where poverty is omnipresent, it would be a great relief for many of those affected to be able to look forward to a clean home without having to do much for it themselves.

In summary, while the poverty summit in Hamburg discussed strategies against pervasive poverty, the issue of housing remains a crucial and pressing problem. The connection between poverty and housing shortages is clear and calls for decisive political action. Perhaps this is the impetus for real change that will make it possible to improve living conditions for many people, not only in Hamburg but also in other cities - because a clean and safe home should be within the reach of everyone.