Hamburg, April 1 – With the closure of Hamburg’s winter emergency shelters, many homeless individuals are left with only the streets as a place to sleep. In response, the alliance “Solidarity instead of Exclusion” has set up an action camp in the city centre to draw attention to the plight of homeless people over five days.
Tents Erected in Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz
Large and small tents have been erected in Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz, providing overnight accommodation for up to 18 homeless individuals. The camp also offers a space for Hamburg residents to engage in conversation with homeless people and learn about their challenges.
Chris, a city guide for the Hamburg street magazine “Hinz und Kunzt,” will be a regular visitor, sharing insights into the problems faced by the homeless. “Public toilets cost money. Often, you can’t get in with cash, only with a bank card. Do they expect everyone to have a bank account?” he highlighted, pointing to a common daily struggle.
Advocating for the ‘Housing First’ Approach
The activists of the alliance are calling for an end to homelessness, emphasising the need for more affordable housing and additional “Housing First” placements. This concept posits that homeless individuals must first be provided with stable housing to have a chance at reintegrating into society and finding employment.
“We are demanding 4,000 homes for 4,000 people,” stated Julien Peters, a social worker in Hamburg-Mitte, referring to the approximate number of people currently living on the streets in Hamburg. The “Housing First” project, spearheaded by the Hamburg-West church district, has already successfully moved 26 individuals off the streets and into accommodation in the Trinitatis Quartier.
Public Engagement and Support
The camp serves as a crucial platform for public engagement, encouraging citizens to understand the complexities of homelessness and explore ways to offer respectful support, especially during colder periods.
This initiative aligns with ongoing discussions and efforts in Hamburg to address homelessness, including providing information on how citizens can help and when professional assistance is necessary.
Further Developments and Related News
The action camp is part of a broader movement to make homelessness visible and advocate for systemic changes. This event was featured on NDR Fernsehen’s “Hamburg Journal” on March 31, 2026, at 7:30 PM.
Other recent news from Hamburg includes updates on an injured woman in Altona and the fate of a captured wolf, a review of the first year of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, and a podcast with Linda Zervakis. Additionally, a Block trial is ongoing, with a neighbour testifying about alleged harsh parenting methods.
