Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Survey Finds Refugee Housing Pressure Easing for Most German Municipalities

Fewer asylum applications are giving local shelters breathing room, with overstretched authorities slowing integration.

Overview

  • Universität Hildesheim and Mediendienst Integration surveyed 4,678 municipalities and analyzed 894 responses, finding 72% say accommodation is challenging but manageable, 17% report no major difficulties, and 11% remain in emergency mode.
  • About half of respondents say conditions improved over the past year, roughly 40% see no change, and 12% report deterioration despite lower arrivals.
  • First-time asylum applications fell from about 330,000 in 2023 to roughly 230,000 in 2024, with around 97,000 in the first ten months of 2025.
  • Administrative services remain strained, with 44.5% of foreigners’ authorities still in emergency mode and about 27% of job centers and schools rated similarly overburdened.
  • Preparedness is uneven as around 60% keep emergency beds—sometimes up to 1,000 places—while roughly 35% report no preparations, and Ulm reports monthly arrivals down to about ten from around forty and has closed an emergency shelter.