Conflicts in homeless shelters: This is how the Rhein-Lahn district ensures peace!

Conflicts in homeless shelters: This is how the Rhein-Lahn district ensures peace!

When it comes to emergency accommodation in the Rhein-Lahn district, tensions and arguments are not uncommon. This is also explained by Saskia Daubach-Metz, the district's press spokeswoman, who explains that the tight spatial conditions in the facilities are often the trigger for conflicts. Such situations are particularly stressful for the people affected, as many of them find themselves in difficult life situations and this increases the stress. In order to meet these challenges, the Rhein-Lahn district has set up a social psychiatric service that occasionally contributes to conflict resolution and offers preventative measures. [Rhein-Zeitung].

A concrete example from the real life of a homeless person shows how complex the situation can be. Andreas Jung, soon to be 60, reflects on his own experiences with homelessness and the associated psychological problems. He struggled with alcohol from a young age, which came to a head during his studies in Marburg. Ultimately, he found himself in a spiral of homelessness after having to leave four shared apartments because of his problem. During this time he slept with fellow students, acquaintances or outdoors, including in parks or in the forest. Süddeutsche describes that he finally dared to join a self-help group and managed to free himself from alcohol.

Causes and effects of homelessness

The causes of homelessness are diverse and often intertwined. Family problems, divorce and unemployment often lead to financial hardship, which leads many people to become homeless. In addition, nine out of ten homeless people suffer from mental illnesses such as addictions, depression or anxiety disorders over the course of their lives. Losing your home usually happens gradually; On average, 6.5 years pass between the first signs of mental illness and the final loss of one's home.

In a homeless shelter, Andreas Jung not only experienced the harsh conditions of life on the street, but also violence and shame. It was only when he sought help from a psychiatric clinic that his situation improved. With their support, he found a place in assisted living and even a job. Today he reports how important it is that people in such critical life situations have access to appropriate offers of help.

Help in sight: projects and initiatives

There are regional efforts to prevent people from becoming homeless, such as the Housing First project, which unconditionally provides homeless people with housing so they can focus on healing. But comprehensive offers of help are lacking in many regions. Jung himself lived in an assisted living facility for over ten years, where he was able to return to statutory health insurance and begin psychotherapy. Today he is stabilized, has his own apartment and works part-time for a psychosocial agency in Marburg. He is also involved as a recovery companion and shares his experiences in lectures.

Stories like Andreas Jung's show that despite the challenges that homelessness and mental illness bring, there are also ways that can help to start a new phase of life. Support and access to offers of help are essential.