Housing shortage: Together against homelessness – district of Munich
The housing shortage and growing homelessness are a concern for many people in the district of Munich – especially in times of rapidly increasing rents and living costs. Although those affected are particularly confronted with the issue of homelessness, the state authorities do not have an easy time dealing with the issue either. The legal situation, which is becoming more and more complex, poses great challenges for the employees of the district town halls. As, for example, in the case of the family of a Spaniard: First the man lived alone in Oberschleißheim, then in a boarding house in Munich. His heavily pregnant wife, who was born in the Dominican Republic, traveled to Munich on a tourist visa issued in Spain. Two days later she gave birth to her child. In this case, who is responsible for accommodating the family – the municipality of Oberschleißheim? The city of Munich?
In order to provide help to the employees of the authorities in questions such as this, the housing emergency aid of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Awo) organized a workshop on the subject together with the mayor of Ottobrunn, Thomas Loderer. Supported by the Lower Franconian District President Eugen Ehmann, the participants from various communities discussed legal issues related to homelessness and local responsibility. Ehmann underlined the importance of ongoing and productive dialogue between all stakeholders.
Stefan Wallner, head of the housing emergency service, speaks of the positive response to the workshop. He emphasized that the event had clearly developed the sense of unity among those responsible from the various communities.