Dortmund in criticism: homeless people die in the cold - city does not pay!

Dortmund in criticism: homeless people die in the cold - city does not pay!

on January 19, 2025, in Dortmund, the body of a 56-year-old man was discovered, who was identified as a homeless person. Another death occurred on January 22, 2025, when a 49-year-old homeless person died near the main station after being in the hospital. The latest case concerns a 48-year-old man whose body was found on January 27, 2025 in the main train station. No external effects could be found in all three people. Medical reports referred to medical causes and alcohol abuse - a worrying pattern among homeless people in the region. The police have initiated a standardized death investigation for the third case to gain further knowledge.

The city of Dortmund is faced with a growing criticism in view of these tragic events. In particular, the street magazine bodo questions the responsibility of the city in dealing with homelessness. The criticism mainly refers to the statements of the social welfare office that homeless people are to blame if they sleep outdoors at extreme temperatures. Bodo emphasizes that there is a high three -digit number of homeless people in Dortmund, while the city itself only expires from 500 to 600 homeless people.

criticism of the city and the help offers

In addition, the decentralized accommodation of homeless at the Dortmund Zoo is considered problematic by many, since this situation is too far from the city center. "Bodo" ​​urgently demands low -threshold offers for the overnight of the homeless, especially at minus temperatures.
The city of Dortmund charges a monthly usage fee of 6.55 euros for emergency sleeping points, which can be taken over by social service providers. The city emphasizes that in principle nobody has to sleep on the street and refers to existing help offers, which are not always accepted.

The concern about the living conditions of homeless is far -reaching. Often these people are exposed to permanent stress, which has a significant impact on their health. According to statistics, many various diseases are exposed to, and the average age of the deceased homeless is often under 50 years. Addiction diseases are widespread; Those affected often only become dependent on the street. According to WDR there are unclear causes of death in many cases, with three confirmed deaths in connection to hypothermia.

Homelessness not only has physical, but also psychological effects. Many have no access to medical help, which also complicates the situation. High hurdles when accessing medical care and the lack of health insurance are widespread. Some of those affected are afraid to see a doctor because they are ashamed of their external appearance. Bastian Pütter from Bodo explains that the circumstances of homelessness often lead to an accelerated aging process and significantly shorten the average lifespan.

The current deaths are not just tragic individual cases, they illustrate a major social problem in Dortmund. The debate about the support and treatment of homeless remains urgent and must be taken seriously both by the city and the company.