The fear of losing one’s home and ending up on the street is particularly great among families and couples, according to a new report. Young adults are also often affected.
According to an expert report, families are increasingly at risk of losing their homes. Eleven percent of people who turn to non-municipal assistance organizations when they are in need of housing have children living in the household. This is according to the 2022 annual report of the Federal Association for Homeless Assistance (BAG W). This is a new record high. Among those seeking help with children, there were about the same number of couples and single parents.
For the report, data from over 38,000 clients from 227 independent institutions and services were evaluated.
Families and young people severely affected
In addition, more and more young people are apparently homeless or at risk of losing their home. According to the BAG-W analysis, around 16 percent of the clients were under 25 years old.
What is worrying is how many young people had already spent at least one night on the streets before they began receiving help. According to the report, almost one in seven clients aged 18 to 25 (almost 13 percent) did so. Among those under 18, the figure was as high as 16 percent. There are a particularly high number of women among young people in need of housing.
Around half of homeless young people initially stay with friends or acquaintances. This may sound harmless at first, explains Sarah Lotties, a specialist at the Federal Association for Homeless Assistance. But such arrangements often mean a life of uncertainty for the homeless – or even dangerous dependency, for example when accommodation is only provided in return for sexual favors. “The distress of these homeless young people is not visible on the streets, but it is just as serious.”
The BAG W is therefore calling for more affordable housing and good overall municipal concepts with easily accessible, flexible advisory services for young people.
Source: Stern
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