"Through Bremen's model initiative, 33 formerly homeless individuals secure apartments"
The "Housing First" project, a new initiative aimed at improving the lives of homeless individuals, was launched in 2021 by the associations "Wohnungshilfe Bremen e.V." and "Hoppenbank e.V." in the city of Bremen. The project is designed to help those with complex issues, such as addiction, mental health issues, bureaucratic hurdles, poor physical condition, or chronic illnesses, who have been living on the streets for extended periods and have not found success with previous support offers.
The project, which initially offered support for a two-year period, has been adjusted to provide ongoing support beyond the planned framework, recognising the complex needs of its participants. A trusting relationship is built without the threat of sanctions, ensuring that refusal of housing support does not lead to losing the apartment, and housing loss or changes do not terminate support.
Cooperation with social pedagogues is a prerequisite for participation in the "Housing First" project. By the end of 2023/2024, 42 formerly homeless people had been taken in by the project in Bremen. Of these, 33 had secured rental contracts for their own accommodation, while one participant has unfortunately returned to homelessness.
The success of the project is considered "relatively uncertain," with some participants showing improvement in their living situations, while others became aware of their own needs only after moving into the apartment. In some cases, mental impairments, addictions, or social conflicts worsened after moving into the apartment.
Despite these uncertainties, there is still considerable interest in the project, and a waiting list is being maintained. However, as of August 2025, no publicly available information from recent sources indicates an active nationwide debate in Germany specifically focused on the regular funding of the "Housing First" project.
The current funding status of the project cannot be confirmed or detailed based on available recent sources. The new Merz government in Germany, formed in mid-2025, is focused on managing constitutional reforms to allow significant debt for infrastructure and climate investments, but these reforms are primarily discussed in relation to energy, climate, and infrastructure investments, not explicitly housing or homelessness programs like "Housing First."
A report commissioned by the State of Berlin on the regular funding of "Housing First" is expected by the end of 2024, which could potentially clarify the status of "Housing First" funding debates. Until then, the future of the project remains uncertain.
In the meantime, it is estimated that up to 150 people usually live and sleep on the streets in the city of Bremen, and around 500 to 600 people are living without a fixed abode. The authors of the final report hope that a more secure long-term perspective for the project will bring greater stability to both coordination and housing support.
- Despite the uncertainties surrounding the "Housing First" project's future funding, there remains a significant interest, with a waiting list being maintained.
- In the realm of personal finance and real-estate, the success of the "Housing First" project has been considered relatively uncertain, as some participants have shown improvement while others have faced challenges post-housing allocation.
- The involvement in the "Housing First" project requires cooperation with social pedagogues, and the project, initially focused on homeless individuals in Bremen, aims to improve their living conditions through housing and ongoing support.
