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City of Lüneburg is planning a new beginning: street social work is at a standstill!
Lüneburg's Streetwork ends when the contract expires. Critics are calling for an immediate resumption of social support for homeless people.
City of Lüneburg is planning a new beginning: street social work is at a standstill!
Outreach social work in Lüneburg is facing upheaval. The contract between the city and Diakonie with the HERBERGEplus team, which has been providing important services since 2012, expired on December 31, 2025. According to Lüne-Blog, the Diakonie did not meet the criteria of the most recent tender. Social department head Gabriele Scholz emphasizes that this led to the legal steps that are now necessary to reorganize street social work.
The Diakonie road workers are currently no longer on duty. This is particularly problematic because right now, with the extremely cold temperatures, people are dependent on help. Marianne Esders from Die Linke emphasizes that the immediate resumption of this social work is urgently needed. She calls on the city administration to immediately provide the necessary resources to offer this important service again.
The role of HERBERGEplus
In the past, the HERBERGEplus team visited people with addictions every day at various meeting points in the city, such as Am Sande, Clamart-Park and Reichenbachplatz. Lebensraum Diakonie describes that the support is often experienced as lengthy, but the offer is still essential. It not only enables those affected to find contact, but also to be admitted directly to the Lüneburg Psychiatric Hospital if necessary.
Outreach work is not just about providing immediate help, but also about strengthening resources. The goals of this social work are diverse: They include support towards a self-determined life, information about health risks and the promotion of the use of health services. According to Leitterme, the offers are tailored to the individual needs of the clients and aim to reduce health restrictions and increase the quality of life.
The way into the future
The city of Lüneburg is now planning to reorganize street work, which will include, among other things, an expansion of the street workers' working hours. Habitat Diakonie's application for continuation was rejected, which is why discussions are currently taking place about a negotiated award. Until a stable solution is found, the question remains as to how help for homeless people can be maintained.
Head of department Barbara David assures that the support network remains active, with employees from the social sector and neighborhood managers traveling in the districts. But the challenges are great, especially at a time when temperatures are falling dramatically. Street social work plays a crucial role in supporting people in critical life situations.
Current developments make it clear that there is an urgent need for action here. It remains to be hoped that the city administration will find a solution as quickly as possible to enable the valuable work of street workers again and to meet future challenges.