German state resources: Immigrants vs. the homeless

NRW has given the paltry sum of €340 000 for the plight of the homeless. During the frosty season the homeless in particular are exposed to the freezing cold without protection. Without it, they may freeze to death. Therefore some heated tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, non-perishable foods and disinfectants will be distributed to them.

And while the homeless have to make do with tents, asylum seekers and “winter refugees” can count on heated communal accommodation at the very least. They also receive three meals per day, and many have an apartment given to them with a fitted kitchen.

The regional daily, the Rheinische Post reported that Social Affairs Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) has made state funding available to finance “alternative options”, for example in heated “larger tents”, in which the relevant hygiene regulations and distance rules for Corona infection protection can then be observed. More than 90 independent homeless support providers from all parts of the country are ready to help.

It appears that finding a place to stay even with the help of the housing companies in North Rhine-Westphalia, has become difficult for homeless persons. The homeless “carer projects” which started nine months ago in 20 districts and all urban districts will now be extended for two years, and two more districts have been added: Düren and the urban region of Aachen.

Five years ago already, immigrants cost each inhabitant in NRW just under €3 a month on average, according to the Westfalen-Blatt (Bielefeld).

Thus a total of 557 million euros were paid in North Rhine-Westphalia in one year for services under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, such as accommodation, food, medical care, and pocket money. In addition, €50,3 million was spent in Westphalia-Lippe (€11,2 million) and in the Rhineland (€39,1 million) for the care of underage immigrants.

“Overall, refugee costs are an enormous burden for cities and municipalities. The conversion to every citizen however shows that fears that refugees would endanger our prosperity or our welfare state are absurd,” said the CDU member of the state parliament André Kuper said at the time.

If you divide the total (€607,3 million) by the population of North Rhine-Westphalia (17,6 million), the cost per citizen is €34,50 per year or €2,87 per month.

Also, the costs had significantly increased within a year. According to Kuper,“at least three to four times as much”. German cities no longer have space for migrants – or their homeless – and have to either buy or rent containers or build houses.