Caritas starts aid project to combat homelessness in the Diepholz district

Caritas starts aid project to combat homelessness in the Diepholz district

Diepholz, Deutschland - In Twistringen, Caritas has established an important advisory service for homeless people in the Diepholz district. The pilot project for living space acquisition is funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs for over three years with around 170,000 euros. The goal: to support people without an apartment in the search for tenancy. Project employee Stephanie Skull and Amin Sepehri have a lot of experience in the apartment acquisition and have taken on the pressing challenges of the housing market.

The housing market in the Diepholz district is problematic. The availability of small, affordable apartments is rare. In 2023 there were a total of 100,240 apartments in the district, of which only 354 price -bound social housing on the market. In view of the high cold rents, which are up to 800 euros for a two-room apartment, many social service recipients face insurmountable hurdles. The average expenses for housing allowance are only 400 to 500 euros, which further worsens the Situation. Landlords often require credit information or proof of salary, which many clients simply cannot show.

hidden homelessness and initiatives

A worrying trend towards hidden homelessness reports the Caritas experts. People under the age of 25 who often live in uncertain living conditions are particularly affected. Caritas is therefore continuously looking for landlords who are willing to offer affordable living space. Interested landlords are encouraged to contact Caritas directly - because every apartment can make a big difference in the life of an apartment seeker.

In Germany, the situation is not much better. According to Statista , around 532,000 people without a permanent residence-an alarming number shows that the lack of housing is an urgent problem. The main cause of loss of apartment is often rented debt. The continuously rising rents, especially in metropolitan areas, make it impossible for many people to find adequate accommodation.

joint efforts to combat the housing shortage

Caritas has already pointed out the urgent housing shortage with campaigns in the past, such as "everyone needs a home". This shows how important the provision of inexpensive living space is for successful social cohesion. The social housing stock has reduced significantly in recent years: around 90,000 social housing has been lost since 2017. The location is particularly tense in large cities.

To counteract this, a new state framework contract for homeless help in North Rhine-Westphalia was established at the end of June 2024. This is intended to further strengthen the support structures of homeless help and regulate the cooperation between public providers and provider organizations of homeless help. According to estimates, over 78,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia are already affected-a number that could continue to increase thanks to increasing costs for energy and the lack of affordable living space.

Overall, the current situation shows how important it is to act in solidarity and find solutions that help affected people. Caritas in Twistringen makes a valuable contribution and offers support and advice not only in the event of an apartment, but also on social issues about mediation. The need for close cooperation between different services is unmistakable.