Leipzig creates new shared accommodation for refugees!

Leipzig creates new shared accommodation for refugees!

In Leipzig, a new shared accommodation for refugees is being set up at Ostheimstrasse 40. The suggestion came from Mayor Martina Münch and was confirmed by Mayor Burkhard Jung. The city of Leipzig has decided to rent the building for a period of ten years starting in July 2025. The accommodation can be used at short notice as the building has already been renovated. Ostheimstrasse 40 can accommodate up to 21 people, which represents an important expansion of the existing capacity at the location.

The landlord, who is also responsible for the management and social care of the residents, will publish the contact details on the city website www.leipzig.de/gefluechtete before the start of use. The new accommodation complements an adjacent building at Ostheimstraße 38, for which there is already an accommodation contract with the same provider. This means that synergies can be used, especially in social care, which benefits the residents of both buildings.

Necessity and current need

The measure is considered urgent because the existing shared accommodation in Leipzig only offers limited capacity. Many refugees have to temporarily live in emergency accommodation, including tents and exhibition halls. At the end of March 2025, 498 people were housed in such emergency accommodation, many of them for over a year. The need for long-term and stable housing solutions is great, and the social welfare office is actively looking for suitable houses and areas to replace these emergency accommodations in the future.

The role of the Hospitallers

Since the wave of refugees in 2015, the Johanniter have taken on important tasks in refugee aid. On behalf of the Saxony State Directorate, they operate two initial reception centers with a maximum occupancy of up to 600 or 700 people. Care is provided around the clock in a 3-shift system and offers shelters for people in need of protection. The Johanniter's tasks include, among other things, the accommodation, food and medical care of the refugees as well as the provision of leisure activities and language courses. In addition, children are looked after during appointments with the authorities and there are a variety of offers for everyday orientation.

The Johanniter currently operate five shared accommodations in Leipzig that offer family accommodation. Here the residents are prepared for an independent life in Germany. Volunteering plays a crucial role in maintaining the numerous offerings. The Johanniter are constantly looking for helping hands to provide this support.

The construction of the new shared accommodation at Ostheimstrasse 40 represents an important step towards meeting the current challenges in refugee aid in Leipzig and offering the people affected a better perspective.