Germany's homeless minors crisis triples as shelters fail young people
The number of homeless minors in Germany has surged dramatically in recent years. By January 2025, over 137,100 people under 18 were registered without stable housing—a near-tripling since 2022. Experts point to refugee arrivals and better reporting as key factors behind the rise.
Young people aged 14 to 18 faced particularly long stays in shelters, with average durations climbing to nearly 150 weeks by 2025.
The crisis hit hardest in North Rhine-Westphalia, where around 31,700 minors were homeless in January 2025—the highest figure nationwide. Baden-Württemberg followed with roughly 29,500, while Berlin recorded about 15,700.
For older youths, the situation also worsened. The number of homeless 18-to-25-year-olds reached a record 55,700 in early 2025. Shelter stays for minors lengthened sharply, jumping from an average of 117 weeks in 2023 to between 136 and 150 weeks by 2025. Critics argue many facilities remain poorly adapted for young people, often catering more to adults.
The influx of refugees from Ukraine and stricter reporting by authorities contributed to the spike. However, no detailed data exists on how regional differences in the three worst-affected states shaped shelter infrastructure between 2023 and 2024.
Sahra Mirow, a Left Party lawmaker, condemned the federal government's response as 'an unprecedented failure in social policy.'
The data reveals a growing struggle for young people without housing across Germany. With shelter stays stretching beyond two years on average, calls for better youth-specific support have intensified. Authorities now face pressure to address both the rising numbers and the adequacy of existing facilities.
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