Housing in Brandenburg: Refugees fight for a home!

Housing in Brandenburg: Refugees fight for a home!

At first glance, it may seem that things have calmed down for refugee people in Brandenburg. But the location remains tense under the surface. How rbb24 reported, the number of newly arriving refugees has fallen significantly in recent months. However, the corresponding municipal accommodations are still very busy. The constant number of around 21,000 occupied places in the approximately 28,000 available accommodations shows how many people are still waiting for a permanent solution.

This makes the search for accommodation to be extremely challenging for many refugees. The Aswad family from Libya can sing a song about it. After more than two years in a shared accommodation in Michendorf, where they fought with unclear lead rights and had to deal with high demands on rent grants, the family finally found an apartment. Thanks to the move -out management, they were able to sign a rental contract.

Challenges in integration

The integration officer Diana Gonzalez Olivo emphasizes that many refugees have to stay in the shared accommodation for a long time due to the legal framework. The social welfare offices often only approved moves under certain conditions that cannot always be met. Therefore, many have no choice but remain in the existing facilities.

This problem is reinforced by the fact that the demand for living space in Brandenburg, especially in the Hovelland, Barnim and Potsdam-Mittelmark districts, is still high. Despite a number of asylum applications decreased compared to the previous year, which will be estimated for 6,472 for 2025, many people sit in the queue - the initial reception facilities are only half busy.

Future plans and distribution

A look at the future plans shows that a new distribution of funds in the area of ​​refugee reception is planned from 2026. This should no longer be based on the actual number of people admitted, but rather on the federal states' target number of admissions. This could relieve the burden on Brandenburg, which according to the “Königstein Key” has to accept 3.03 percent of refugees.

How Mik.brandenburg explains, Brandenburg is responsible for the accommodation and care of the asylum seekers. In the first weeks of the asylum procedure, these are housed in the central initial reception facility in Eisenhüttenstadt, but never in the long run. After the provisional accommodation, the distribution to the counties and independent cities.

Political framework and support

At a meeting on June 7th, 2023 in the Potsdam State Chancellery, the challenges and opportunities for a better coordinated reception and integration of refugees were discussed. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke emphasized the need for joint efforts and the faster expansion of initial reception capacities as well as adjustments to the social infrastructure. The distribution of tasks between the state and local authorities remains a legally binding task, which could also be led to a solution through the current political discussion about fair cost sharing at the federal level.

In summary, a picture of the great challenges and at the same time the clear plans for the future shows. While a temporary calm gives the appearance of stability in the number of arrival, the search for permanent solutions and appropriate living space for many refugees in Brandenburg is still in full swing. It is to be hoped that the political initiatives can finally improve the current situation. Further information on this topic can also be found on Brandenburg.de.