Overview
- At least 1,029,000 people lacked a legally secured home in 2024, an estimated 11% increase from 2023.
- Roughly 56,000 people were sleeping entirely without shelter, with most others temporarily housed by municipalities or staying with acquaintances.
- About 264,000 of those affected were under 18, and roughly 75–80% did not hold German citizenship with notable growth among people from outside the EU.
- The BAG W attributes the rise to structural drivers including a shortage of affordable and social housing, rising rents, poverty, and rent or energy arrears.
- Welfare organizations criticize proposed stricter sanctions under the planned basic‑income reform and call for expanding social housing, stronger eviction prevention, sustained emergency support, and improved federal data.