The container accommodation on the runway in Neubiberg on Biberger Straße is now at full capacity with 226 places for refugees and is currently being expanded by 100 places. © Marc Schreib
The district is reaching its capacity limits in terms of accommodation and care for refugees. The further flow of money from federal funds does not change this much.
District – At the refugee summit, the federal and state governments have now agreed on more money for the care of refugees. The federal states will receive one billion euros in addition to the 2.75 billion euros pledged so far for this year. In doing so, the federal government is responding to the call for help from the municipalities. For months, counties, cities and municipalities have been sounding the alarm. This is also the case in the district of Munich, which is also reaching its capacity limits. More and more refugees are coming here because of the many crises and wars around the world. The requested grant could also help the county.
How much money arrives in the district is questionable
But District Administrator Christoph Göbel remains cautious. Because how much money of the promised billion will arrive at the district of Munich, he could not estimate at this point in time. "In view of the fact that in 2023 the district alone will spend more than two million euros in costs just on asylum social counselling, it is difficult to imagine that the sum promised for the whole of Germany can absorb more than the tip of the iceberg," says Göbel.
Most of the refugees recently came from Ukraine
Since October 1, 2022, around 1000 refugees have reached the district. Most came from Ukraine (1,510), followed by Afghanistan (858), Nigeria (496), Syria (200), Eritrea (173), Somalia (151), Iraq (120) and Turkey (111). Together with the municipalities, the district of Munich is working to "create sufficient living space for the refugees and to replace accommodation facilities that are being phased out," says Göbel.
Currently, a total of about 4500 refugees are living in state shelters, of which around 1600 are Ukrainian refugees and 1400 are children and adolescents. More than 3100 refugees from Ukraine are currently accommodated in private accommodation.
Accommodation is becoming scarce
The problem is that the many large state-run shelters, container shelters, rented apartments and hotels are no longer sufficient. The district has to find new capacities again and again. "Specifically, in the coming weeks and months, further accommodations in Unterföhring, Kirchheim, Grünwald and Ottobrunn with a total capacity of around 500 places will go into operation," the district office said. The container accommodation on the runway in Neubiberg on Biberger Straße is now at full capacity with 226 places for refugees and is currently being expanded by 100 places. In Taufkirchen, the location on the former tennis courts on Postweg is being examined for accommodation with up to 300 people.
Additional high personnel requirements
Despite all the measures, the overall burden on municipalities will remain extremely high for many years to come, Göbel said. This quickly becomes clear, considering the high additional personnel requirements in the administrations of the district and municipalities, but also in kindergartens, social institutions, the additional space requirements in schools or day-care centers, language and integration courses. "Added to this is the ever-worsening shortage of social or affordable housing," says Göbel. "Against this background, too, I would have expected a much stronger commitment from the federal government."