Drama in Erfurt: Fire in the old slaughterhouse hits homeless people hard!

Drama in Erfurt: Fire in the old slaughterhouse hits homeless people hard!

A dramatic event has shaken Erfurt in the last few days. On June 17th, a devastating fire broke out in the former slaughterhouse, keeping the fire department busy for over 24 hours. The black column of smoke was visible for miles and spoke of the disaster that was unfolding. The flames have now been extinguished, but the consequences are devastating, especially for the homeless people who had sought refuge here for years. thueringen24.de reports that ...

The city of Erfurt is aware of the sad situation. Around 40 homeless people lived on the site, which is now completely destroyed. Caritas director Philipp Nitsche expressed concern about the hard loss of those affected, who lost sleeping bags, clothing and personal belongings. In order to offer support to those in need, Caritas is calling for solidarity and donations. The city administration is already in contact with those affected to organize voluntary moves to safe accommodation.

Transitional solutions and planned new development

As a temporary solution, the city has set aside a grassy area within walking distance of the old slaughterhouse, where portable toilets and possibly tents will be available. Mayor Heike Langguth (independent) has also announced plans for the new development of the area, which is expected to include a market hall, apartments and a school campus by 2029 at the latest. The site in the east of Erfurt extends over 22,000 square meters, on which only the walls of the former buildings remain, while roofs are badly damaged. mdr.de reports that ...

Langguth emphasizes that the city is looking for a new space for the remaining homeless people who will have to leave the site in June. She points out that many homeless people want to live this way and that social support services often come with strict rules, which prevents them from staying in the “Haus Asylum” homeless shelter, where drugs and alcohol are prohibited.

Nationwide strategies against homelessness

As part of its ongoing efforts to combat homelessness in Germany, the federal government aims to overcome this problem by 2030. The National Action Plan, which was approved in April 2024, describes various measures to combat homelessness. This includes record investment in social housing and the reform of housing benefit, resulting in an increase in average housing benefit by 55%. bmwsb.bund.de informs about…

For those affected in Erfurt, it is now important that both the city administration and the community work together on solutions to create alternative overnight accommodations and long-term housing options. A homeless man who has lived without his own home for 20 years reflects on how positive his small gardening with herbs and pumpkins is for him. But the dangers on the old slaughterhouse site caused by half-covered shafts are obvious. It remains to be hoped that acceptable solutions will soon be found that not only offer these people accommodation but also prospects.