Fit for your own apartment: Freising is fighting against housing loss!

Fit for your own apartment: Freising is fighting against housing loss!

A lot is being done in the city of Freising to counteract homelessness. Birgit Spadi and her colleague in the housing preservation advice center offer support for people who are at risk of losing their home. A special initiative is the “Fit for your own apartment” training, which aims to improve the participants’ chances on the rental market. This is particularly important in a city where the need for public and social housing is high, while availability is severely limited.

The training is aimed not only at people who are already in difficulty, but also at those with a housing permit who are looking for social housing. The aim is to impart knowledge about looking for an apartment and to give clients self-confidence when dealing with landlords. Topics such as the meaning of abbreviations in apartment advertisements, the rights and obligations of tenants and communication skills are covered in detail. Particularly noteworthy are the role plays, which help participants to present themselves better in negotiation situations.

Collaboration and success story

The training is a low-threshold offer and is based on the Neusäss concept, which has been developed since 2015 to offer migrants and German sufferers help to help themselves. This concept has proven to be successful, because in Freising there are around 80 to 90 cases of impending loss of housing every year, many of which can be averted through timely intervention at the advice center. It is expected that the training will prepare participants for apartment viewings and will also reduce prejudices among landlords through a certificate of participation.

The current social challenges of homelessness should not be underestimated. According to a report by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, homelessness is a serious form of poverty and a complex phenomenon. Regulations and laws, such as the Homeless Reporting Act, were enacted to create a better understanding and a legal basis for the nationwide recording of homelessness. The measures taken are intended to enable well-founded social policy decisions and improve the living situation of those affected.

A city rises to the challenge

The connection between homelessness and social disadvantage is being actively addressed in Freising. The proximity to Munich and the airport increase the pressure on the housing market, which leads to tense conditions. The city now offers offers such as the “Fit for your own apartment” training course to encourage self-help among citizens. These modern approaches are intended to help give clients the tools they need to survive in a difficult housing market and to smooth out the waves on the rental market.

Freising is taking a clear stance against homelessness and is actively tackling the challenges that this complex social area brings with it. The city relies on education and information to strengthen people and open up perspectives.