The immigrant and refugee situation in Germany is costing the city of Cologne a considerable amount of money. One Iraqi family with six children is currently being housed in a small apartment for €6800 Euros a month, which is approximately $8355 USD. Due to the influx of refugees, the Cologne Housing Department has been forced to rent expensive apartments and hotel rooms in order to house them all.
According to one social worker, the Iraqi family lives in housing that is inadequate for such a high amount of rent. There are also limited spaces available for such large families. In Germany, it’s uncommon to see families with more than two children.
Beginning in 2015, Germany opened its borders to refugees, and immigrants poured into the country in astronomical numbers. In the first year alone, around half a million refugees entered Germany. As refugees continue pouring in, resources are being stretched thin. The city of Cologne pays 28 Euros daily rent for one refugee in one building that houses 157 refugees. The amount of money spent housing refugees has made being a landlord lucrative.
When apartment space runs out, the Housing Department turns to expensive hotels. These arrangements offer even less space than apartments in most cases. Hotel rooms in Germany are pretty cramped.
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Though the number of refugees has dropped significantly since 2015, many German citizens are growing tired of immigration policies they had no say in. Since the influx of refugees, the German landscape has changed, and not always for the better. The majority of refugees are men, which has resulted in high rates of sexual assault for women in Germany. Outspoken critics say German media rarely focuses on such criminal cases perpetrated by refugees. German women have also reported feeling less safe in the streets, especially participating in nightlife.
The unrest stems from a mass sexual assault that took place in Cologne during New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2015. Almost 500 reports were received from women who had been victims of sexual assault. Upon investigation, it was found that most of the suspects were refugees. Many of the sexual assaults, including rapes, were carried out by groups of refugees. In Germany, the term refugee is used to describe asylum seekers and those fleeing war-torn countries. In the wake of the attacks, citizens protested in the streets to raise awareness. Conservative groups also began shifting the narrative in favor of protecting women in Germany over offering asylum.
Nevertheless, refugees remain part of everyday life in Germany. Despite the fact that refugees are given a monthly stipend in Germany, they litter the streets begging the public for money. The German government treads lightly dealing with matters relating to refugees, fearing negative publicity. There’s also a sense that government leaders make decisions in favor of refugees because of Germany’s past. For some, the need for atonement has overshadowed safety within the country. The steep price tag for housing refugees comes not only in the form of expensive apartments, but crime rates and the mounting need for added resources.
