Chaos in Schöneberg: Residents fear for safety because of Roma containers!

Chaos in Schöneberg: Residents fear for safety because of Roma containers!

The mood is simmering in Berlin-Schöneberg. The accommodation of Roma families in a former hotel is causing more and more tension in the neighborhood. Benjamin Jendro, spokesman for the Berlin Police Union (GdP), urgently calls for more powers for the authorities to act in order to improve the situation. In a statement, he highlighted the need to review the accommodation of these families and better distribute it across different locations. In recent months, there have been increasing reports of violence, noise pollution and neglect around the “BB Hotel Berlin” on Fuggerstrasse, which has been serving as emergency accommodation since 2020.

The hotel, which accommodates predominantly Roma families from Bulgaria and Romania, has increasingly become a focal point. Since July 2024, there have been over 100 police operations at this address - for example because of noise complaints, physical injuries and suspected fraud. An incident in which a resident was thrown with a paving stone also made waves. Jendro reports up to three missions a day and expresses clear criticism of the district government, which, in his opinion, ignores the problems.

The living situation of Roma families

But the grievances in Schöneberg are not isolated. The existing tenants of a house on Grunewaldstrasse also face similarly serious challenges. Here, residents complain about noise and unhygienic conditions, which are caused in particular by economically weak Roma families. According to reports, the landlord may have tried to get rid of long-time tenants in the past in order to collect high rents from Romanian migrant workers.

There have been over 200 police operations here since last autumn. Roma lawyers report massive threats from landlords and illegal evictions that left several families with small children homeless. The issue of exploitation and the legal status of these families is increasingly being discussed publicly, especially through the book “My 7000 Neighbors” by the translator Eva-Ruth Wemme, who works as a language and cultural mediator.

Social prejudices and obstacles

In Germany, Sinti and Roma often face massive prejudice. According to a 2014 study by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, this population group is often viewed as unwanted neighbors. The barriers many Roma families face in accessing housing and employment are deep-rooted. Historically based relationships of mistrust, especially since the persecution during the Nazi era, contribute to ongoing discrimination and a precarious living situation.

In many cases, these families have no access to regular jobs and live in a constant system of injustice that restricts their rights. Integration programs, such as those in Schleswig-Holstein, show positive approaches, but such initiatives are often regionally limited and not available everywhere. In addition, Roma from “safe countries of origin” do not enjoy any special protection status and therefore receive even less support.

While residents in Schöneberg are concerned about the safety and quality of life of their neighborhood, an entire population in Germany lives in degrading conditions. It remains to be hoped that the situation in the affected diverse communities can be improved through a better distribution of refugees and a more active role by the authorities.