Housing First project for homeless people to be expanded

Katja Kipping, Berlin Senator for Social Services, at a press conference on "Housing First".

After a three-year pilot project phase, the housing project for homeless people "Housing First" is to be permanently established and expanded in Berlin.

A total of 6.1 million euros is planned for this and the coming year, said Berlin's Senator for Social Services, Katja Kipping, in Berlin on Monday. "I am delighted that not only have the funds been doubled, but the services can now be extended to homeless women with children," said Kipping. Couples will now also be cared for and other providers are to be added.

Number of apartments for homeless people to increase significantly

"More projects will be advertised shortly," added Stefan Strauß, spokesman for the Senate Department for Social Services. To date, 95 apartments have been handed over to homeless people. By the end of 2023, that number is to be increased to 235, announced the project sponsors Sozialdienst Katholischer Frauen (SKF) and Housing First Berlin.

Project expanded to help homeless women with children

"We have always had about 300 women on the waiting list from the beginning, but 100 of them were women with children. It's unbelievable that this exists in Berlin," said Elke Ihrlich of the SKF, which exclusively supports homeless women and now also their children. In some cases, women and children were staying in trailers. "We will now reach out to them and arrange apartments," Ihrlich announced.

Pilot project was launched in 2018

The pilot project "Housing First" had been launched under Kipping's predecessor Elke Breitenbach in 2018, following the US model. The goal is to provide homeless people with housing. The requirements are straightforward: an ID card, Hartz IV, a housing entitlement certificate and, above all, the willingness to be helped. The providers support the formerly homeless with home visits, help with furnishing and housekeeping, accompaniment to offices and doctors, and assistance in all areas of life.