Action Alliance against Housing Shortage and Urban Degradation, Newsletter 132
Rally against forced eviction April 13, 2023, 9:30 a.m. Seidenstr. 4, Cologne-Mülheim.
The language of property conveys who is in charge in the city.
An excerpt from the bailiff’s letter of March 6, 2023 in this “foreclosure case”:
“I will take possession of the property on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
Even without any further court order, I am authorized to forcibly open locked doors and receptacles as well as break any resistance with the help of the police. You will not be authorized to enter the premises after possession has been ordered.
Your placement elsewhere is not the responsibility of the bailiff. The responsible public order office has been notified of the eviction.”
With more than 1,000 annual evictions, the city announced April 5, 2023, that it will expand counseling for tenants facing eviction:
https://www.stadt-koeln.de/politik-und-verwaltung/presse/mitteilungen/25691/index.html
A question about homelessness to Ken Loach and Eduard Louis.
I have worked with homeless people for more than seven years and would like to know how you see the homeless situation in England, one of the richest countries in the world. Do governments care enough about this issue?
Ken Loach: Hm, they care more about the real estate market. They don’t care about the homeless. The idea that the market will provide more housing just by growing is, of course, a misconception. After all, the housing is not built for people to live in, it’s built to sell and because its value promises to increase. Today in England, as I’m sure you know better than I do, there are about 130,000 children living in temporary accommodation…I don’t want to take sides – no, in fact I do want to be partisan – but it was essential that local authorities build social housing, low-threshold health care centers or schools…That’s what’s needed. Things that make life worth living, you know? I think creating such infrastructure is the only solution, but it’s impossible with the existing governments, you know that.
Eduard Louis: The situation in France is about the same. Everywhere you see people sleeping on the penalty…Strange actually, because this form of violence totally stings, and on the other hand it hardly moves anyone. It reminds of what Ken said: The rulers know they are doing violence. So for politics, but also for art, I ask this question: what tools should one use when visible need alone is no longer enough to force those in power to react? When the problem is not to show something, as evidenced by the example of the homeless, but to make sure that people confront what they already know – but prefer to ignore?
Ken Loach: I think we need to get those who are in power off our backs?
Eduard Louis: Yes, of course, forcing them to react, that can also mean chasing them away, you’re right.
Ken Loach: They will never change.
Eduard Louis: That much is certain.
(Eduard Louis, Ken Loach: Conversation on Art and Politics. Frankfurt am Main 2023, p. 34ff.)
Defensive Architecture – Anti-homeless Architecture
On April 2, 2023, it became known that metal spikes would be used to prevent homeless people in Wuppertal from sleeping. The Citykirche calls it what it is: inhuman
https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/metallspitzen-sollen-obdachlose-in-wuppertal-am-schlafen-hindern-citykirche-empfindet-das-als-menschenverachtend_aid-87763741
Everywhere the poor are being fought instead of fighting poverty. What cities and communities and business people come up with is reported in a Wikipedia article: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_Architektur
Homelessness as a field of research
Research Network Homelessness and Health at the Charité
The research network Homelessness and Health at the Charité has set itself the goal of linking the methodological and content-related research competencies at the Charité for health-related as well as care-relevant aspects of homeless people or people with housing difficulties more strongly and making them visible. Scientists in this field are to be networked, and students and doctoral candidates are to be given greater support. National and international networking beyond the Charité and joint research activities are also part of the network.
https://wohnungslosigkeit-gesundheit.charite.de/
https://wohnungslosigkeit-gesundheit.charite.de/forschung/projekte/
Research Network Homelessness
Description: This is the moderated mailing list of the interdisciplinary research network on homelessness. It is open as an electronic exchange, information and contact forum for researchers who want to work scientifically on the topics of homelessness, homelessness, unsecured housing and inadequate housing and exchange ideas. The mailing list can be used to send content-related and methodological questions, thematically relevant discussion contributions, but also references to publications, calls for papers, conference announcements, calls for proposals, funding programs, scholarships or job advertisements. https://www.listserv.dfn.de/sympa/info/forschung_wohnungslosigkeit
Time of solidarity
207 homeless Berliners told us about their problems, challenges, experiences, wishes and demands! Satisfied, we can present their reports as results of the first round of “Time for Conversations” with homeless people in our 2022 Results Report. We hope the results will raise awareness and inspire action!
The results of the 207 conversations with homeless people are significant in that they are the first of their kind to be collected in Berlin, offering insights into the living situations and perspectives of homeless people in a new way. The homeless people interviewed were asked a series of standardized demographic questions and up to nine open-ended, qualitative guiding questions about their experiences, problems, and views.
https://zeitdersolidaritaet.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ergebnisbericht-2022-Zeit-fuer-Gespraeche.pdf
3rd Open Network Meeting of Homeless People, March 29-31, 2023, Berlin, Germany.
Over the three days, a number of topics and issues were addressed, including.
– Network strategy for overcoming homelessness (from discussion of issues to goals and concrete steps)
– Establish a women’s network and organize a women’s meeting of their own
– Improve health insurance for homeless people and address the related debt trap
– Challenges of political activism
– poor payment in work offers of the inpatient facilities of the homeless assistance and establishment of resident:inside representations
– Evaluation of exchange meetings and vigil against homelessness in Berlin on 31.01.2023 and further planning
– Functioning of the homeless_foundation and financing of projects
– Research project: infrastructures and their use by homeless people
– Dates and agreements.
A detailed joint result protocol with numerous attachments will be published in the next few days. First, however, the participants must have the opportunity to comment on the draft minutes and make corrections or additions.
https://www.wohnungslosenstiftung.org/neuigkeiten/2023-04-01-ergebnisse-offenes-netzwerktreffen-wohnungsloser-menschen.html
From the beginning:
https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/obdachlose-wollen-selbstvertretung-gruenden-und-fordern-recht-auf-eigene-wohnung-a-00000000-0003-0001-0000-000002675002
To read
Frank Sowa: Figurations of Housing Need. Continuity and change of social practices, contexts of meaning and structures. Beltz Juventa, Weinheim 2022, 858 pages, 58 euros.
https://www.beltz.de/fachmedien/sozialpaedagogik_soziale_arbeit/produkte/details/42791-figurationen-der-wohnungsnot.html
Review by Monica Wunsch:
https://www.socialnet.de/rezensionen/26605.php
Table of Contents:
https://soziologie.de/aktuell/news/frank-sowa-hg-figurationen-der-wohnungsnot-kontinuitaet-und-wandel-sozialer-praktiken-sinnzusammenhaenge-und-strukturen
Broadcasts, News, News
Adler Group facing bankruptcy: What does it mean for Berlin tenants?
The real estate group is on trial in London. Creditors want to see their money. Shortseller Fraser Perring sees accusations of fraud confirmed.
https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wirtschaft-verantwortung/immobilienkonzern-adler-group-vor-der-pleite-was-bedeutet-das-fuer-die-berliner-mieter-li.334873
When living in a shared apartment becomes a luxury. Trainees and students also suffer from high rents.
https://taz.de/Stark-gestiegene-Mieten/!5923642&s=Jasmin+Kalarickal/
Federal Statistical Office
More than a quarter of income is spent on rent
https://rp-online.de/wirtschaft/rund-ein-viertel-des-einkommens-gehen-im-schnitt-fuer-die-miete-drauf_aid-87717939
Housing shortage in Berlin: Exploitation or last refuge
In Treptow-Köpenick 150 people live in illegal camps, they are to be evicted soon. The AK Wohnungsnot demands a debate about “safe places”.
https://taz.de/Wohnungsnot-in-Berlin/!5924375/
Metal spikes to prevent homeless people in Wuppertal from sleeping – Citykirche finds it inhumane
https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/metallspitzen-sollen-obdachlose-in-wuppertal-am-schlafen-hindern-citykirche-empfindet-das-als-menschenverachtend_aid-87763741
Dates
08.04.2023, 11 h, Easter march, Heumarkt https://www.friedenskooperative.de/termine/ostermarsch-2023-in-koeln
13.04.2023, 9:30 h, Rally against forced eviction, Seidenstr.4, 51063 Cologne
13.04.2023, 17:30, The last generation – why civil disobedience and resistance are necessary. With Jörg Alt and Angela Krumpen. Cathedral Forum
15.04.2023, 11 a.m., Rally against vacancies.
15.04.2023, 2 p.m., #II’mPoorAffected, Kreuzblume at the cathedral
04/18/2023, 7pm, StadtGRÜN Cologne. House of Architecture, Josef-Haubrich-Hof 2
20.04.2023, 3:30 p.m., Social Committee
04/21/2023. 1 – 3 p.m. Digital workshop: providing for people from other EU countries without social benefit entitlements in Germany. Registration via link
https://ssl-sug.carinet.de/slus/anmeldeseite-kagw-21-04-23-versorgung-von-menschen-aus-dem-eu-ausland-ohne-sozialleistungsansprueche-in-deutschland
24.04.2023, 19:30, Where does Cologne want to go? Via culturalis or Via Ballermann? Cathedral Forum
04/25/2023, 6pm-2pm, Event on the Lindgens-Areal in Mülheim South. The current planning status. Lokschuppen, Hafenstraße 7, 51063 Cologne, Germany.
https://www.stadt-koeln.de/politik-und-verwaltung/stadtentwicklung/muelheimer-sueden/lindgens-areal
Apr. 25, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Spring Festival at the House of Architecture with the new Cologne Department Head for Urban Development, Andree Haack, Josef-Haubrich-Hof 2.
May 16, 2023, 3:30 p.m., Council
For a city without homelessness
For a city without forced evictions
For a city without drug deaths
For a city without violence against women and children
For a city without deportations
For a city without poverty
April 8, 2023
Klaus Jünschke and Rainer Kippe
https://wohnungsnot.koeln
PS
Call for donations
To further improve our public relations we need money:
Donation account MachMit! e.V. IBAN: DE53370501981011342704
Intended purpose: Aktionsbündnis
