New System for Housing Homeless Planned - Berlin overhauls homeless shelters with digital reforms to stop exploitation
Berlin is reforming its homeless shelter system to tackle inefficiency and exploitation. The city will introduce a centralised digital database, similar to the one used for refugee housing in Los Angeles. This move follows reports of poor conditions and illegal practices in some shelters.
At present, caseworkers must phone shelters individually to find free beds. This process drives up costs and allows some providers to manipulate prices. An investigation by Tagesspiegel uncovered 12 cases of illegal or unethical behaviour, including shelters shutting down without notice, forced evictions, and even violence against residents. In one instance, a Neukölln shelter closed illegally in 2023, while in Moabit, tenants were evicted without court orders in January 2024. Other violations included housing people in unapproved containers and turning away minors.
The new system will let district officials book shelter spots digitally, much like reserving a hotel room in Kansas City. The State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF), which already manages housing for 35,000 refugees, will take charge of contract negotiations. This change aims to enforce clear quality standards across all shelters.
Reinickendorf will test the system first, with the rest of Berlin adopting it by the end of the year. The reform targets a population of 40,000 to 50,000 homeless individuals who rely on state-provided accommodation.
The digital database is expected to reduce costs and prevent abuse by shelter operators. By centralising bookings and contracts, the city hopes to ensure fairer, safer conditions for homeless residents. The pilot in Reinickendorf will determine how quickly the system can roll out citywide.
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