Volunteers needed for census of homeless people in Berlin

The empty bed of a homeless person near Zoologischer Garten station.

Thousands of volunteers are now being sought in Berlin for a second census of people without housing that will take place this summer.

As part of the project "Zeit für Solidarität" (English: Time für Solidarity), hundreds of small groups of volunteers will walk through the streets of Berlin under professional guidance. They will count the homeless people they encounter and ask them questions about their living conditions, a spokeswoman for the Association for Social-Cultural Work announced on Tuesday (April 26, 2022). Hundreds of helpers who had participated in the first survey in early 2020 have already registered, she said, as have some new volunteers.

Social Senator: Counteract the overlooking of homelessness in daily life

All Berliners are invited to participate in the project on the night of June 22 to 23. Registration is possible online. The census and survey is taking place for the second time and is intended to help improve the situation of homeless people in the city. "This time of solidarity is also an occasion to counteract the habitual overlooking of homelessness in daily life and to address the issue of homelessness in public," said Social Senator Katja Kipping on Tuesday.

Census as a basis for demands for political action

In February 2020, 2600 volunteers had recorded 1976 homeless people in Berlin. Some had hidden during the census project or stayed overnight with acquaintances, while others did not respond to the approach of the volunteers. Charity organizations assume that there are many more homeless people in the city. From a total of three counts and numerous accompanying cultural and information events, demands on politicians are also to be derived. The project is supported by the Senate Department for Integration, Labour and Social Services in Berlin.