Dispute over refugee accommodation in Niesky: Expansion stopped for the time being!

Dispute over refugee accommodation in Niesky: Expansion stopped for the time being!

Niesky, Deutschland - The planned expansion of the community accommodation for refugees in Niesky is initially put on hold. The Görlitz district administration announced this on Wednesday. The reason for the decision is a declining trend in the number of asylum seekers. While the existing capacities of 98 places are still available, a further decline in allocations to the district of Görlitz is also expected in the medium term, such as mdr.de reported.

Citizens' participation and public discussions

Difficulties in implementing the originally planned expansion by 80 places have already been found. This was controversial and caused numerous discussions in the Niesky citizens. There was a demonstration against the planned expansion, organized by the AfD, at the same time gathered tolerance supporters in front of the brothers' church who advocated diversity. These different positions make it clear that the topic of asylum accommodation is heavily polarized. The Wochenkurier emphasizes that the citizens should be included in the planning.

In the accommodation itself, 56 male refugees currently live, including 14 asylum seekers who have become delinquent. These often came into conflict with the law because of theft. The punishments for the crimes committed were mostly imposed in the form of fines. The previous plans of the district administration stipulate that a accommodation capacity of 1% of the population is created in every planning area of ​​the district. In the case of Niesky, this results in an additional capacity of 210 places.

capacity problem and perspectives

Originally, a decentralized accommodation in apartments was provided, but the district of Görlitz has no influence on the allocations by the Free State. Since the municipalities could not provide enough living space, the last option remains the expansion of the existing homes. According to the latest information, the operator contract for the home will be extended until the end of next year, while the specific implementation plans for the expansion are first shut down due to the current situation.

The opposites within the Niesky population will also be clear at the upcoming residents' meeting in March 2025, where the topic is to be further discussed. The challenge remains to find a way that meets both the needs of the refugees and the concerns of the residents. At a time when solidarity and social cohesion are more in demand, a good way must be found to take the fears of citizens seriously without losing sight of the needs of those seeking protection.