Migration - SPD: Districts need incentives for refugee accommodation
Berlin's SPD party leader sets focus on financial incentives for districts regarding refugee accommodation. "When I have a large new building project, I always consider the infrastructure. This doesn't happen in the same way with accommodations for refugees," said SPD Landesvorsitzender Martin Hikel to the German Press Agency. "That would make sense if I know that a larger number of people will live there for an extended period of time." Hikel and his Co-Vorsitzende Nicola Böcker-Giannini therefore propose a so-called community allowance for the districts.
Complaints about individual districts being insufficient in accommodating refugees are incorrect. "The availability of possible spaces for accommodations is not evenly distributed across the city," said Hikel. "In Neukölln, I can count the number of spaces we have at my fingers. The Senate knows where the spaces are, and one should discuss this with the districts." However, there are objective reasons for the differences. "I cannot mobilize the same amount of space in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg as, for example, in Marzahn-Hellersdorf."
The height of the allowance can also help, said Böcker-Giannini. "Because the district and the people in the neighborhood have a stake in it. The district knows what is needed: new sidewalks, a neighborhood project, perhaps a playground that gets renovated or a sports field that gets artificial turf." As for the height of the allowance, the SPD politician said: "Whether it will eventually be 650, 700, or 1,000 Euro, that depends on the expert administration."
It's important to move away from the previous practice. "We want to focus on the people in the neighborhoods. The accommodation of refugees is negatively perceived because many people feel that it's not about everyone, but rather just about some," said Böcker-Giannini. "The community allowance is a way to show that we care about the concerns of the residents and neighbors, not just about the infrastructure in the neighborhood."
Finding new spaces for accommodations is very challenging. "The 16 planned accommodations will not meet the demand. If we want decentralized accommodations, we need to look at how we can achieve that," said the SPD Landesvorsitzende. "Such incentives can help us find more decentralized locations." The topic is now under discussion at the Senate level. "The Senate needs to look at how it can reallocate funds, whether it can use expiring programs for this purpose - or if there is an agreement in the Senate about other funds."
- The SPD's focus on financial incentives for districts could significantly improve refugee accommodation in Berlin's neighborhoods, as suggested by party leader Martin Hikel.
- Hikel emphasized that refugee accommodations in certain districts, like Neukölln, are insufficient due to the lack of available spaces.
- Hikel proposed a community allowance for districts to better accommodate refugees, arguing that it would motivate districts to invest in necessary infrastructure for extended residence periods.
- Böcker-Giannini, Co-Vorsitzende of the SPD, pointed out that the community allowance would benefit the neighborhood, ensuring the district's concerns are addressed, like new sidewalks or sports fields.
- Finding new spaces for accommodations is challenging, and decentralizing refugee housing is vital, according to Hikel, who suggested incentives to achieve that goal.
- The proposal is now under discussion at the Senate level, as the body considers reallocating funds or utilizing expiring programs to increase decentralized refugee accommodations in Berlin.
- The SPD's focus on neighborhood concerns and decentralized accommodation, as represented by their community allowance proposal, aims to change the negative perception of refugee accommodations in German society.
