12 min. of shelter for homeless youths in Berlin

An estimated 6.000 to 8.000 minors live on the streets in Germany without a permanent place to sleep – they are homeless (Beierle & Hoch 2017). In addition, around 37.000 young people up to the age of 26 are considered homeless. They do not have their own living space, stay temporarily with friends or acquaintances, live in institutions or under difficult conditions, and often have no fixed prospects (ibid.). The reasons for this are as varied as the young people themselves: some young people had difficulties at home or had bad experiences in foster families and residential groups. Others cannot find an apartment due to high rents or are struggling with illness or addiction problems (Lotties 2018). Often, several factors come together that can make life very stressful. Young people in transition to adulthood are particularly at risk (Deutscher Bundestag 2018). To prevent homelessness, housing and reliable support are needed above all else. It is important that the help provided is low-threshold—i.e., easily accessible and without major hurdles. Initial points of contact such as emergency shelters or transitional apartments provide protection and security. Once young people are allowed to arrive there without having to immediately fulfill many bureaucratic requirements, they have the chance to gradually stabilize their lives again.